By Cosmas Okereafor
The 30th edition of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), which took place on the 10th September, 2026, may have come and gone, but issues raised at the conference surely will continue to gain tractions in the industry.LAAC, in the last three decades have continued to provide a platform where issues bordering on the growth, sustainability and development of the aviation industry in line with international standards are discussed by critical stakeholders.In doing so, it has etched itself in the mind of industry stakeholders who now look forward for the conference every year.The Chairnan, Airpeace Airlines, Dr Allen Onyema, who was the key note speaker called for understanding and harmonous relationship between the operators, agencies of government, consumers of aviation services, including the union while delivering his paper.
He however made case for survival of the airline which he said could be achieved through the reduction of number of charges and taxes currently being paid by the airlines. The Airpeace boss also charged everyone operating in the system to see themselves as one big family, coming together to pursue a common goal, stressed that, there was no way the industry will not make meaningful progress if all hands are on deck, despite the heavy financial outlay that is required by airlines to remain afloat, and operational.Dr Onyema acknowledged the fact that, the government has being very supportive and that, the listening ear of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu equally paved the way to why some of the airlines are still operating till today. He called on those that are very critical about the operations in the aviation industry to remember the importance of the sector in growing the national economy, and by extension employment it has also generated for teeming Nigerian youths across the country. The Airpeace boss maintained that, driving sustainability remains the watchword in the industry even as he emphasized that industrial harmony is what is needed at this time to ensure transformative, better and speedy growth in the system.On his part, the executive Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines, Professor, Obiora Okonkwo, told the august gathering that, there was no time domestic operators failed to comply in the payment of five percent Ticket Sales Charge(TSA), to the Nigeria aviation regulatory authority, NCAA.
Professor Okonkwo alluded to the fact that payment hiccups surfaced when airlines began to experience the high cost of aviation fuel which skyrocketed to N3,300, occasioned by the US- Iran imbroglio.He explained that, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), was the first organization to raise the alarm on the impact of the high cost of fuel to the airline operators.He stressed that, there was no payment problem s even till february this year. All airlines according to him maintained a clean slate not until when the Gulf crisis persisted.” We wrote to the president, explaining that we could no longer pay these charges. We requested either a complete suspension of charges or temporary relief during the aviation crisis, and the request was granted. The president agreed and waived 30%”.Following the president waiver, he maintained that, the airlines met with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), where it was agreed that airline operators should pay 10% of the legacy debts within a stipulated period of time, while others be paid on instalment basis.” The airlines fully complied with this directive. The director met with operators in Lagos and Abuja and we developed a payment plan.This plan was in place. When you have a payment plan in place, you dont default.
We were making regular payment according to the agreement we entered with NCAA until we heard about the labour union problem”, he stressed.He explained further that UNA likewise other airlines moved in quickly and established payment mechanism with NCAA, which he said is on going.In a related development, in a twelve paragraph communique issued at the end of the LAAC seminar, stakeholders called for a review of the five percent Ticket Sales Charge( TSA), collected from airlines and in its place, canvassed for unit cost per flight.They also called for a review of government’s huge revenue expectations from the airlines and however push for more practical ways for service cost recovery amongst other demands.The one day conference drew large number of participants; Government agencies, captains of industry, and their CEO’s, ground handling companies, and policy makers in the aviation industry.
