The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has authorised domestic airlines to increase the fares payable on air tickets to ensure safe and efficient services to air travellers.
The Aviation body urged the airlines to make sure that airfares are in tandem with cost of operation, factoring in the high prices of aviation fuel, charges and other expenses incurred by providing service to passengers.
A top official of the NCAA, who spoke on condition of anonymity explained that the NCAA authorised the hike in airfares to prevent airlines from compromising safety of travellers.
The source added that the regulatory body has warned that airlines that charge fares that do not reflect the current reality would be sanctioned because such airlines would be unable to effectively carry out routine maintenance of their aircraft and would therefore be tempted to cut corners and endanger the lives of air passengers.
The aviation industry regulator noted that financial regulation of airlines is part of the overall safety regulation aimed at averting accidents and major incidents.
“If local airlines want to operate safely, they will have to increase fares. This is because aviation fuel prices have increased; the prices are a reflection of the current exchange rate because we are importing. So for the airlines to continue to pay for fuel, pay for training and maintain their aircraft, they must have to increase fares; otherwise the airlines may be exposed to accident due to poor maintenance of their aircraft,” the senior official of the agency said.
The source also confirmed that some airlines might likely go under due to the high cost of operation and liquidity problems.
