Expert challenges local airlines on merger to stop foreign domination of airspace
Chairman African Business Aircraft Association (AFBAA), Mr. Nick Fadugba, has encouraged domestic airlines in the country to co-operate and merge in order to favourably compete with international airlines.
Fadugba made the call at the 22nd Annual Seminar of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), with the theme: Financing Aviation Development Through Private Sector Partnership at the Lagos Sheraton Hotels and Suites.
According to him, Nigerian airlines should stop crying that foreign airlines are raping the aviation industry, stressing that the way forward is for them to merge and face the competition.
Fadugba pointed out that at the moment; Nigerian airlines are not working together in areas of flight operations, training, spares and maintenance.
“With little or no funding from the government and lack of co-operation amongst Nigerian domestic airlines, how can they compete with the likes of Emirates, Delta, or Lufthansa airlines.” he asked.
Fadugba reasoned that the sector has a long way to go until government introduces a more thorough approach to funding aviation.
He, however, implore the government to adopt the model adopted for aviation in Singapore and United Arab Emirates for the industry to make progress.
Commenting on the new National Carrier, Nigeria Air, Fadugba noted that there is a lot of uncertainty due to the modality adopted for the project; when the government through the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) already owns Aero and Arik airlines implying three airlines are under the ownership of the government which has not happened in any country before.
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