Nahco strategises to salvage aviation sector

A CALL has gone to aviation stakeholders to prevail on the government to follow through its aviation roadmap towards lifting the sector from the doldrums.

 The Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nahco Aviance, Norbert Bielderman, represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Hassan Yahaya, made the call at a recent Airport Business Summit and Expo, held in Abuja. He admonished airport authorities to allow for partnership in the provision of optimum service delivery at the various airports for all users.

 In his paper titled: ‘Improving Passenger Experience through Optimizing the use of Automated Check-in and Baggage Drop-off Facilities’, Bielderman said that automation will lead to value, speed, convenience and control for the passengers, while the airlines will reduce cost and bottlenecks. He added that airports, through the automation will achieve a better space management and increased processing capacity amongst others.

He stated further that long queues, poor facilitation guide, poor ventilation, ineffective departure hall belts, frequent break down of conveyor belts and high passenger taxes are some of the problems being encountered by passengers and other users of the various airports and therefore called on the authorities to partner with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc in the provision of some of these services, either through outsourcing or concessioning.

The Nahco Aviance boss who was one of the lead presenters at the event pointed out that there is more benefit for the government, the people and all stakeholders if there were concerted efforts to develop the sector.

The event which held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja had participants from various Government and non- Governmental organizations, including the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Accident and Investigation Bureau, Air Peace and a host of other aviation stakeholders.