Aero re-introduces additional charges
Aero Contractors,
on Monday, for the second time, announced the introduction of a fuel
surcharge of N500 on all its airfares, effective from July 12.
The Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA) had in the month of May, halted plans by the
airline to collect fuel surcharge of N500 and cash handling charge of
N300 on every ticket purchased by passengers beginning from May 19, and
June 1, respectively. The civil aviation regulatory body, at the time
of the suspension, stated that the carrier did not notify the authority
before it made public its plans of surcharging passengers for services
rendered. Meanwhile, the airline, through its Head of Commercials,
Robert Prophet, disclosed that the fuel surcharge is meant to moderate
the effect of the unprecedented rise in aviation fuel prices in
Nigeria. “We have always offered competitive fares on all our routes,”
he said. “The introduction of the fuel surcharge is to ensure even more
transparent pricing.” He also noted that airline operators and industry
analysts on several occasions have called on the government to
intervene in the price of aviation fuel, popularly called Jet-A1, sold
in the country, as they argued that the price of the commodity was
expensive compared to what obtains in other parts of the world.
Mr. Prophet, nevertheless, assured that the carrier is observing the
price of the commodity globally, adding that Aero will not hesitate to
revisit the pricing of its tickets should there be a reduction in the
cost of Jet-A1. “Fuel costs are being closely monitored, we promise to
review the surcharge immediately the cost of fuel goes down,” he said.
Speaking on the development, Sam Adurogboye, media head for the NCAA,
said that dialogue between the agency and the airline is still ongoing,
adding that the authority sent for Aero after its first announcement of
additional charges. “The issue of either to introduce or not to
introduce fuel surcharge by Aero is on,” he said. “When the issue came
up, they (Aero) were summoned and I think the meeting is not yet
concluded.”
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