CONSUMER PROTECTION:BEFORE THE BILL OF RIGHT

The industry is gearing up to receive the bill of right as espoused by the NCAA. This bill should whip our airlines in line on issues related to services provided to passengers. The bill is expected to address the perennial problems of delays, cancellations, refunds, hidden charges e.t.c
Stakeholders and passengers are eagerly awaiting this bill, the airlines just like their counterpart world over usually are apprehensive and would work against the bill. The DG’s pronouncement on the bill has made tongues to wag. it is important to look at other issues outside the control of the airlines that are contributing to the present operational delays and associated issues. These issues are pertinent and should be addressed by the government and relevant agencies before making the bill an act.
The remodeling of 12 major airports at almost the same time has reduced operational capacity at these airports. The airlines are made to operate from make shift structures or often times wake up to meet alien procedures that usually slows down the facilitation process.
The aluminum graveyard at the GAT terminal where dead and abandoned aircrafts are parked, has made parking difficult for operational aircrafts and increased the incidence of aircraft wings touching each other or the tail of another aircraft.
Private jets used by some governors are also parked at this terminal which increases the operational constraints. Aircrafts taxing to park are made to wait while marshals struggle to get a convenient space. Delta and Imo state government in particular need to be notified.
The boarding gate at Abuja airport is grossly inadequate while the buses provided as an alternate, to ferry passengers from the terminal to the airside are unfriendly to the elderly and the physically challenged passengers.
The epileptic screening machines at our airports is another sore thumb that creates operational hazards for our airlines, their efficiency is ruptured by the equally epileptic power supply.
The Public Address System provided at the government controlled airports is barely audible with clarity problems, efforts made by some airlines to supplement with portable address system are usually resisted by FAAN management.
The presidential movement that closes the airspace for between 30 to 45 mins needs to be addressed, it is understandable that NAMA cannot come out to complain but rather be seen defending and verbally reducing the time used for such movement. It is important to remind all stake holders that the issue is a recurring decimal, the presidency, relevant security bodies and civil aviation authorities need to work out an efficient time management.
It is commendable to see NAMA take over the control of runway lighting, because some of our airports don’t have this critical runway equipment, the airlines are forced to run a clumsy day light operation that has reduced frequencies and capacities that would have corrected some noticeable operational challenges. The other challenges are the NOTAM at Abuja airport that recently necessitated the order of the NCAA that any take off after 9pm should not be permitted and the lack of runway light on 19L, which is the domestic runway in Lagos. These airports are the domestic hub of airline operations and can effectively slow down the entire network of scheduled operators.
NCAA inspectors need to improve and fast track responses and procedures to issues related to aircraft incidences and AOGs. Aircrafts are delayed at off line airports due to delayed or non availability of inspectors to inspect and certify aircraft for ferry.
Aviation fuel is important to airline profitability and of late aircraft delay, therefore the government with the NCAA driving this push must address this issue quickly and decisively. The Indian government has just authorised its carriers to import jet A1 directly to bring down cost and ensure availability while the Argentine government this week ordered the major oil companies to put a price cap on fuel sold to aircrafts registered in the country. The report went further that the cost of a liter of jet A1 must not exceed that of gasoline by 2.7% ,using the rate of the nearest filling station. If that policy is to be applied here, using the present N97 per liter for fuel that will translate to about N100 per liter for jet A1, this will be convenient for our operators. The Argentine anti-trust commission report said that in the USA the difference between petrol and Jet A1 is not more than 2.1% and this should be reflected in the Argentine market. Then we may ask where is the Nigerian anti-trust commission? When will we start protecting consumers in Nigeria using requisite institutions and laws?
Quite naturally, this bill will attract fines and sanctions to recalcitrant domestic carriers, will this bill or a similar one be replicated on foreign airlines who hide under the archaic Cease and Desist Order?