The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority says all airlines’ tariffs for
services rendered, which include fares, rates, add-on charges or terms
and condition of service, have been fully liberalised.
This was contained in a statement by the General Manager, Public Relations of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, on Sunday.
The statement explained that this was to clarify reports in some
sections of the media that the NCAA had authorised airlines to increase
their fares.
According to the statement, air fares and sundry charges have been statutorily deregulated and subjected to market forces.
It added: “However, all air carriers or their agents shall file, with
the authority, a tariff for that service showing all rates, fares and
add-on charges.
“These include the terms and conditions of free and reduced rate
transportation for that service, as specified in Part 18.14.1.1 of the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).
“They shall obtain approval from the authority to introduce and or
increase add-on charges or surcharges such as fuel, internet booking,
insurance, security and similar surcharges, prior to implementation.”
The statement said the section also requires all tariffs to be filed
at least seven days before the rates come into effect, except in the
case of matching an existing rate for which no prior notification was
required.
It added: “The NCAA will, therefore, approve the fares accordingly.
Prior to the approval, all fares filed with the authority are subjected
to Breakeven Analysis and this continues intermittently.
“This analysis is to curb anti-competitive pricing among airlines and
to ensure that fares are not too low as to impact on safety arising
from inability to carry out prerequisite maintenance on their aircraft.
“On the other hand, NCAA will similarly intervene if the fares are
too high to avoid overpricing that will deny the teeming passengers
access to air transportation.”
According to the statement, the NCAA under Part 18.14.1.4, may
sanction an airline for failing to apply the fares, rates, charges or
terms and conditions of carriage set out in the tariff that applies to
that service.
It said the airline would be directed to pay compensation for any
expense incurred by a person adversely affected by its failure to apply
the fares, rates, charges or terms and conditions set out in the tariff.
“Therefore, the NCAA wishes to advise all airline operators and
stakeholders to discountenance the reports and continue to operate in an
atmosphere of liberalisation and level playing field the Federal
Government has put in place
