Nigeria will save a staggering $3 billion annually, if homegrown airlines maintain their aircraft locally, Chief Executive Officer, Onedot Aviation, Capt. Henry Oludotun Ogunyemi, made this known
Speaking at the weekend, Ogunyemi said the amount covered heavy maintenance checks on some aircraft type, including Beoing, for which the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), had given its approval.
According to him, Nigeria was losing huge sums to other countries because of the failure of the government and private organisations to set up such facilities.
Ogunyemi said taking aircraft overseas for maintenance for, say Boeing aircraft, was costly. He said the prevailing economic condition should impress it on airlines to consider patronising local Maintain, Repair and Overhaul (MROs) operators that have the capacity for their type of aircraft.
He said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had approved Onedot Aviation to carry out line and maintenance checks for Beechcraft, HS-125 and Bombardier, among others.
In an interview, Chairman of Air Peace Mr Allen Onyema said domestic carriers could save more money if there were maintenance facilities in the country. He said the huge sums spent on overseas maintenance of aircraft could not be readily recovered from ticket sales.
The Chief Executive Officer of Aerocontractors of Nigeria, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, said such aircraft maintenance facility would reduce costs for airlines.
Akinkuotu said offshore maintenance of aircraft was affecting many carriers, forcing some to abandon their aircraft at such facilities.
Vice President of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) Comrade Ilitrus Ahmadu said local maintenance of aircraft would save the industry huge sums of money.
