The Chairman, United Nigeria Airline, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo is advocating a special window for domestic carriers to access foreign exchange in procuring spares for their aircraft requiring immediate replacement in the aviation Industry.
Dr Okonkwo said this would keep airlines alive.
Speaking with Aviation Reporters in Lagos, he said the existing bi-weekly window for bidding by banks on behalf of airlines is not yielding the right results as airlines now have to seek an alternative window to secure foreign exchange, to meet their operational needs.
According to him, ”the carrier is open to various options of collaboration including pooling of aircraft, spares, tools and expertise to deliver stronger airlines that will contribute significantly to the growth of the air transport industry.”
Dr Okonkwo also said that the airline based in Enugu Akanu Ibiam International Airport, is in the process of acquiring land space from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to set up its own Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility.
This is aimed at serving the airline and others both domestically and in the sub-region, while reassuring the general public that the airline is here for a long haul as well as with lofty plans for the industry.
The airline currently with four ERJ145, is hoping to increase its air fleet in a couple of months, to be done in phases, gradually, organically and systematically.
Why the choice of ERJ145? The United Nigeria Airline boss said, it was the best for them and convenient to build routes and give passengers the quality service they deserve.
Aviation fuel
He however lamented on the numerous challenges faced with, which top most is the high cost of Aviation fuel.
On the cost of Aviation fuel which is on the increase, the airline operator said, “It is a great thing of concern.
“We started operation at N160. The cost component of aviation fuel is 30 to 40%. When you move from N160 to N270 within a space of two months, one ordinarily would expect that the minimum ticket sales almost increase with 50% especially when the cost component is 30 to 40%.
“It is a great thing of concern for the industry to remain viable, certain cost components must have to be adjusted and the only way you take is through ticketing or cargo or courier.”
In the area of employment, Dr. Okonkwo said, ”the opportunities have been created in the different areas of operations, stressing that with the commencement of flight, they have engaged a whole lot of people with some of them up to 50 to 60% having their first experience in aviation after undergoing the required mandatory trainings.”
For the Director of Administration of the airline, Mr. Linus Awute, the airline is trying to grow organically as the responses they are getting from the market is heartwarming and in next couple of months, it would add another aircraft to its fleet with promises of more employment as capacity increases.
“More people are in the pipeline as we expand our routes, open our operational base and that will go on and on, the more aircraft we have, the more people that will be employed”, he added.
Giving a breakdown of their passenger traffic in the past two months of operations, the Chief Operating Officer, Osita Okonkwo, said, during the period, they carried 25,000 passengers and currently the passenger load is 3,200 per week.
Mr Osita said that the new airline was strategic and ready to learn the ropes of efficient airline business and service the people appropriately.
Emphasising that the airline was built on the unity of the country, Osita said, “Our motto is flying to unite which is both micro and macro. It is micro in the sense that once you come to us, we have a promise that we take you to your destination; and we move from there to unite different citizens and cultures in Nigeria.
”The unity we are talking about is an experience that we want everybody that flies with us to experience and enjoy.”
Mercy Chukwudiebere
