Nigeria’s drive to expand its domestic airline industry is facing a major infrastructure challenge, with operators warning that the country’s airports may not have the capacity to accommodate the growing number of airlines and aircraft entering the market.

The concern was raised at the 30th annual conference of the League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, where industry stakeholders examined the challenges confronting the sustainability and growth of the aviation sector.

Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines and spokesperson for the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, specifically questioned the pace at which Airline Operating Certificates (AOCs) are being issued without a corresponding expansion of airport infrastructure.

According to him, while increased competition is welcome, the government must ensure that airport facilities, particularly aircraft parking and ramp areas, are capable of supporting the additional operators.

“More AOCs are being issued, and perhaps five more will be issued by year’s end. More competition is fine, no problem. But where is the infrastructure to accommodate these additional aircraft?” Okonkwo asked.

He disclosed that obtaining his own AOC took between two and three years, whereas some operators were now receiving theirs within six months.

Okonkwo said the growing number of aircraft could worsen congestion at airports unless infrastructure development kept pace with the expansion of the airline industry.

He cited a recent incident involving a United Nigeria aircraft which, according to him, remained on the tarmac for about 30 minutes because passengers could not disembark due to congestion on the ramp.

The airline executive also questioned whether Nigeria’s existing airspace capacity could adequately support the anticipated growth in aircraft operations.

His concerns come amid increasing efforts to encourage more indigenous airlines and promote competition in the domestic aviation market.

Meanwhile, the operators also highlighted the financial pressures affecting airlines, with AON Vice Chairman and Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, disclosing that airlines contend with about 54 different aviation charges.

Onyema said the numerous taxes, levies and charges had become a significant burden on operators and were affecting their ability to remain profitable and competitive.

He called for a comprehensive review of the charges, stressing that a sustainable aviation industry requires a balance between government revenue expectations and the survival of airlines.

Another major operational challenge highlighted by Okonkwo was the persistent problem of bird strikes.

He disclosed that a United Nigeria Embraer E190 aircraft had remained grounded for 13 days following a bird strike, despite repairs and replacement of damaged components.

He said such incidents impose huge financial losses on airlines, particularly when aircraft are acquired with borrowed funds.

Okonkwo also called for stronger protection of airline workers during flight disruptions, recounting an incident in which passengers allegedly refused to disembark after a United Nigeria flight returned to Lagos because of adverse weather conditions at Kano.

He warned that the safety and security of aviation workers must be taken seriously whenever disruptions occur.

The concerns raised by the operators suggest that Nigeria’s aviation expansion requires more than the licensing of new airlines.

For the anticipated growth to translate into improved connectivity and stronger competition, stakeholders say airport infrastructure, airspace capacity and operational safety measures must expand alongside the number of carriers.

*Operators raise alarm over ramp congestion, bird strikes and rising costs

*AON says 54 charges are stifling airline competitiveness

Nigeria’s aviation industry may be heading for a major capacity crisis as the number of airline operators continues to grow without a corresponding expansion of airport infrastructure, industry stakeholders have warned.

The warning came at the 30th annual conference of the League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, where airline operators raised concerns over the ability of existing airports to accommodate the growing number of carriers and aircraft entering the market.

Vice Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said Nigerian airlines currently contend with about 54 different taxes, levies and charges, which he described as a major obstacle to the profitability and competitiveness of the sector.

But beyond the financial burden, the operators raised concerns about whether Nigeria’s airport infrastructure is keeping pace with the expansion of the airline industry.

The AON spokesperson and Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, questioned the continued issuance of Airline Operating Certificates (AOCs) when available airport facilities are already under pressure.

Okonkwo disclosed that while it took him between two and three years to obtain an AOC, some new operators were now obtaining theirs in about six months.

He said increased competition was desirable but warned that new airlines would put additional pressure on already congested airport facilities.

“More AOCs are being issued, and perhaps five more will be issued by year’s end. More competition is fine, no problem. But where is the infrastructure to accommodate these additional aircraft?” he asked.

The United Nigeria Airlines chairman cited a recent experience in which one of his aircraft remained on the tarmac for about 30 minutes because passengers could not disembark due to ramp congestion.

His concern was that the situation could become more severe if more airlines acquire aircraft without corresponding improvements in airport infrastructure and airspace capacity.

“I wonder if we have enough airspace,” he added.

The infrastructure concerns are compounded by operational hazards, particularly bird strikes, which Okonkwo said were causing significant damage to airline operations.

He disclosed that one of his airline’s Embraer E190 aircraft had remained grounded for 13 days following a bird strike, despite repairs and replacement of damaged components.

“Today, I have an aircraft, E-190. This is the 13th day of AOG (aircraft on ground) due to bird strike. We bought new blades and fixed them,” he said.

Okonkwo said the financial impact was particularly painful for airlines that had borrowed money to acquire aircraft.

“Imagine having borrowed 30% of funds from the bank to acquire these beautiful aircraft, only to wake up and face a bird strike. It happens continuously within one month. It is very painful,” he said.

He expressed frustration over what he described as inadequate measures by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to effectively address the bird-strike menace.

The airline executive also raised another growing concern—the treatment of airline workers during flight disruptions.

He recounted an incident involving a United Nigeria flight that returned to Lagos after heavy rain affected operations at Kano Airport. According to him, some passengers refused to disembark from the aircraft after it returned to Lagos, resulting in a difficult situation for the airline and its workers.

Okonkwo warned that protecting aviation personnel must be given greater attention, particularly during disruptions when passengers can become aggressive.

“If we cannot protect airline workers, who are somebody’s wives, children, sisters, and brothers, then when there is any flight disruption, what happens? Staff disappear because nobody wants to be harmed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Onyema said the industry’s infrastructure and operational challenges were being worsened by the high number of charges imposed on airlines.

According to him, Nigerian airlines pay about 54 different charges, a burden he said undermines their ability to compete effectively with foreign carriers.

“One thing I want to mention is that there are many charges. If I were to list them, there are about 54 that airlines pay,” Onyema said.

He also called attention to an ECOWAS agreement reportedly providing for a 25 per cent reduction in taxes across West Africa, saying the provision had yet to be implemented.

Onyema expressed optimism that direct engagement between airline operators and President Bola Tinubu could produce significant reforms in the sector.

He recalled the removal of the four per cent Free-on-Board customs duty after he raised concerns about its impact on airlines, describing the development as an example of what could happen when government responds to industry concerns.

The operators also raised concerns about the impact of official pronouncements on investor confidence and the reputation of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Okonkwo urged government officials, particularly political appointees responsible for public communication, to acquire sufficient knowledge of aviation before making statements on the sector.

He argued that poorly informed statements could damage confidence in an industry already struggling with significant operational and financial pressures.

The concerns raised at the LAAC conference point to a deeper challenge confronting Nigerian aviation: the sector is seeking more airlines and greater competition, but its infrastructure, regulatory framework and operating environment may not yet be expanding at the same pace.

Unless the gap between airline growth and infrastructure capacity is urgently addressed, increased competition could produce congestion and operational bottlenecks rather than the improved connectivity and service quality expected from a growing aviation market.

*Okonkwo reveals 30% waiver, cites soaring fuel costs

*ATSSSAN insists airlines cannot withhold statutory levy

A fresh battle over billions of naira in statutory aviation revenue erupted at the 30th annual conference of the League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, as domestic airline operators and aviation unions engaged in a heated confrontation over the controversial five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

The dispute centred on whether airlines, already struggling with escalating operating costs, can withhold or delay remittance of the levy, which is collected from passengers and transferred to government aviation agencies.

The sharp exchange exposed the widening fault line between financially pressured airlines and organised labour, which insists that statutory aviation charges cannot be treated as negotiable obligations.

Speaking for the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, said airlines had previously met their statutory financial obligations but began experiencing difficulties as operating costs surged.

Okonkwo, who spoke on the conference theme, “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands with Sector Growth,” attributed the payment challenges largely to the dramatic increase in aviation fuel prices.

He said the price of aviation fuel rose to about N3,300, following what he described as the Gulf crisis, putting further pressure on already cash-strapped airlines.

According to him, AON was the first to formally approach the Federal Government over the burden of regulatory charges and seek relief for operators.

“Before February this year, there were no payment problems. All airlines were paying. The AON issue only became a problem because of the Gulf crisis. AON was the first to cry out. We wrote to the President, explaining that we could no longer pay these charges,” he said.

Okonkwo disclosed that the Federal Government subsequently granted airlines a 30 per cent waiver on the charges.

He explained that following the waiver, airline operators held several meetings with the NCAA and the Ministry of Aviation to agree on a structured repayment plan for outstanding obligations.

He said the NCAA subsequently requested that airlines pay 10 per cent of their legacy debts within an agreed period, with the balance to be paid in instalments, while individual airlines were expected to meet with the authority’s Director of Finance.

But the operators’ position triggered a strong reaction from organised labour.

Secretary-General of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Francis Akinjole, rejected any suggestion that the five per cent TSC was subject to negotiation by airlines.

Akinjole described the operators’ position as “mischievous”, insisting that the levy was established by law and could only be changed through the appropriate legislative process.

“We heard them very well. They are saying the five per cent TSC is not justifiable, but it is not the making of the DG NCAA or the Minister. That payment was established by an Act; so they know where to go,” he said.

“They are just trying to find what does not exist to stop what already exists. They are being very, very mischievous.”

The union leader maintained that financial difficulties could not give airlines the right to determine which statutory obligations they would comply with.

“This is an Act; it is the law. You cannot say that because things are hard for you, you will then choose which law to obey,” Akinjole said.

He argued that any attempt to discontinue the levy would require the appropriate legislative process, including a public hearing.

The unions further warned that non-remittance of the TSC could have serious implications for aviation safety and the welfare of workers across the sector.

They maintained that airlines are merely collection agents for the levy, which is paid by passengers and belongs to the government’s aviation safety and regulatory system.

The confrontation has now brought the long-running dispute over outstanding statutory remittances into sharper focus, with the competing demands of airline survival, government revenue and aviation safety becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile.

For an industry already battling high fuel costs, foreign exchange pressures and other operational challenges, the TSC controversy presents another major test of the Federal Government’s ability to balance revenue collection with the financial survival of domestic airlines.

The explosive exchange at the LAAC conference may therefore have opened a new chapter in the dispute, with pressure mounting on aviation authorities to broker a lasting solution before the disagreement further strains relations between operators, regulators and organised labour