Travel Agents Petition NCAA Over Foreign Airlines Selling Tickets in Dollars

Travel agents in Nigeria have filed a formal petition with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), raising concerns over foreign airlines’ practice of selling tickets in dollars instead of the local currency, the naira. This move, they argue, is not only in violation of Nigeria’s financial regulations but also places an unfair financial burden on travelers and travel agents alike.

The petition highlights the rising frustration among passengers who face inflated costs due to unfavorable exchange rates. Travel agents claim that the airlines’ decision to price tickets exclusively in foreign currency is discriminatory and has made air travel prohibitively expensive for many Nigerians.

“This is a direct affront to the financial policies of our country,” said a representative of the agents’ association. “We are calling on the NCAA to intervene and ensure compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) guidelines, which mandate transactions in naira for goods and services offered within the country.”

Foreign airlines have reportedly attributed their pricing policies to challenges in repatriating funds from ticket sales due to foreign exchange shortages in Nigeria. In recent years, airlines have faced significant delays in accessing their earnings from the Nigerian market, prompting some to adopt dollar pricing as a safeguard against currency fluctuations and potential losses.

While the airlines’ concerns are not without merit, the agents argue that this approach unfairly shifts the financial burden to customers and contravenes local laws. The agents also fear that this practice could set a dangerous precedent, undermining the integrity of Nigeria’s monetary system and negatively affecting the broader travel industry.

The NCAA has acknowledged receipt of the petition and promised to review the matter thoroughly. “We are committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian travelers and ensuring that all operators comply with the country’s regulations,” an NCAA official stated.

This issue comes at a time when the aviation industry in Nigeria is already grappling with high operational costs, fluctuating exchange rates, and limited access to foreign currency. Airlines have increased ticket prices significantly in recent months, further straining the affordability of air travel for the average Nigerian.

Economic analysts have weighed in, noting that resolving this dispute will require balancing the airlines’ need to safeguard their earnings with the local market’s demand for fair pricing practices. Some have suggested that the CBN could play a role by improving foreign exchange liquidity to alleviate the airlines’ concerns.

Meanwhile, passengers have expressed their frustrations, with many taking to social media to decry the high cost of international travel. “It’s already hard enough to afford a ticket; now we have to deal with dollar pricing on top of that?” lamented a traveler.

The agents are calling for stricter enforcement of existing regulations and punitive measures against airlines that continue to flout the rules. They argue that protecting the naira and ensuring accessible air travel should be a priority for all stakeholders in the aviation sector.

As the NCAA begins its investigation, stakeholders across the industry will be watching closely. The resolution of this issue will have far-reaching implications for the aviation sector, currency management, and the accessibility of international travel for Nigerians.