The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has called on the Federal Government to put an end to the arbitrary increase in the price of aviation fuel, also called JET-A1, by oil marketers to safeguard the interest of the flying public, airlines and the aviation industry.

The call was made jointly by Chairman of AON, Dr Steve Mahonwu and Assistant General Secretary, Muhammed Tukur, while briefing journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, recently.

Mahonwu appealed to the Federal Government to put an end to what he described as the exploitative attitude of the aviation oil marketers, who are always increasing the pump price of the product at will, adding that the sky-rocketing price of aviation fuel has made the cost of operating airline business very expensive in the country.

According to him, “Aviation fuel price has sky-rocketed from N108 per litre to N140 per litre. This is unacceptable! The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) should address the issue of fuel marketers rather than be blaming the airlines for increases in airfare. We are not fighting ourselves, but are striving for equity, success and unity in diversity.”

He argued that there is a limit to how much a passenger can be charged to maintain patronage, adding that safety of passengers is of great concern to airlines.

On airlines’ indebtedness, Mahonwu appealed to the airlines operators in the country to ensure that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) continue to do business harmoniously, adding that they must endeavour to pay the debts owed the aviation agencies which amount to billions of naira.

The AON boss said that it is when airlines pay the debts owed these agencies that they can hold the agencies accountable, having played their part, calling on them to pay all debts owed FAAN and the other agencies.

He said that if this is done, airlines have the moral justification to challenge the agencies if they fail to provide the necessary services for airlines and infrastructure at the airports across the country.

Speaking on why commercial banks have been moving out of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, also known as MMA2, the AON chairman said that the report reaching the airline body is that banks are shying away from the facility due to excessive high premium charged by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), managers of the domestic terminal.

He further stated that AON findings revealed that banks pay premium for MMA2 believing that all the airlines, including Arik Air, with the largest aircraft fleet, will relocate and the quantum of passenger movement would doubly enhance the banks’ income .

In his words, Since Arik Air which controls over 40 per cent of the total passenger traffic, failed to relocate, this grossly affected the revenue potential of MMA2. “Arik Air is poised to conquer Africa and the world, having conquered Nigeria,” he said.

On the division of the terminal into two portions, the Legacy area, where premium fees are charged and the Airline area which costs less, the AON chairman said this is the practice in most busy airports across the world.