The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has threatened
to sanction any airline operator that arbitrarily increases miscellaneous
charges included in airfares without the authority’s approval.
NCAA’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Samuel Adurogboye,
in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on
Sunday, said any further breach would attract sanctions.
The statement warned that NCAA would mete out sanctions on
any airline that increased its airfare arbitrarily without filing the proposed
add-on charges with the regulatory authority for approval.
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is directing all
airlines to file any proposed add-on charges, surcharges or other miscellaneous
charges with it with immediate effect, or risk being sanctioned.
“In the procedure of filing same, all justifiable reasons
for increment must be adduced in accordance with parts of the Nigerian Civil
Aviation regulations which relate to the approval of charges on all flights
within Nigeria or originating from Nigeria to international routes.
“This is as contained in the Nigerian Civil Aviation
regulations in requesting for approval of any add-on charges or surcharge, “ it
said.
The statement said that an air carrier was required to
provide justifiable basis for the proposed increment with a consideration of
all relevant factors
According to the statement, this will include a new linear
rationalisation for the specific aggregated costs sought to be recovered and
consumer interests.
The statement said that when approving any application for
an add-on charge or surcharge related to fuel, NCAA shall take into account
changes in prices of aviation fuel.
“Others to be considered are the relevant hedging policies
of the air carrier, the justifications provided by the air carrier and other
relevant factors.
“NCAA will also ensure that the revenue so generated would
not exceed the additional fuel costs borne by the airline operators during the
corresponding period,“ it said.
The NCAA, in the statement, warned all operators that any
add-on charge, surcharge or other miscellaneous added on passenger tickets
without regulatory approval should cease forthwith. (NAN)
