The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on the National Assembly to protect Nigeria’s airlines, saying that carriers are operating on slim profit margins.

Speaking yesterday in Ibadan at the 50th yearly general meeting of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), the Area Manager, West and Central Africa, IATA, Dr Samson Fatokun, said that the National Assembly needed to support airlines with legislation to remain in business.

He pointed out that for the airlines’ $2.5 billion, which represents 0.7 per cent contributions to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), to be sustained and improved upon, the National Assembly needed to do more for the airlines.

According to him, the current ongoing crisis in the Middle East, occasioned by the Israel-United States and Iran war, had distorted the 2026 projection for the industry globally, stressing that for any airline to continue seamless operations, they needed the support of the governments.

Fatokun explained that, for instance, Jet A1 price in Africa was 17 per cent higher than anywhere else in the world, while taxes and charges on the continent are between 12-15 per cent higher than the rest of the globe.

Fatokun pointed out further that air navigational charges on the continent are equally 10 per cent higher than the rest of the world, while carriers on the continent pay between six and 10 per cent more for aircraft maintenance, insurance and cost of capital.

He added: “Besides, as of today, African governments still hold back $954 million of blocked funds. All these factors contribute to higher air ticket prices in Africa compared to the rest of the world.

“The National Assembly should take up this with the Nigerian Federal government. We need to protect our carriers in Nigeria. The airlines are operating with a very thin profit margin.”

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Abdulfatai Buhari, advised NANTA to officially write to the National Assembly on the challenges in the sub-sector and promised that the assembly would address them.

He also rebuked some foreign airlines that charge only in dollars in Nigeria, saying the practice was killing the nation’s economy.

He specifically mentioned Delta, United and Emirates airlines as culprits in this practice, noting that it was necessary for NANTA to escalate this before the National Assembly to address it.

He said: “How can some foreign airlines that operate in Nigeria insist on dollar-only transactions in our country? Can any airline go to India and say it would not transact in rupees?

“If we don’t take steps, the National Assembly can’t address these challenges all alone. The government alone cannot tackle all these issues without the cooperation of everyone.”

Earlier, the President of NANTA, Dr Yinka Folami, said it was necessary for all players in the sector, especially travel agencies, to put an end to touting in the sub-sector.

He assured that NANTA, as a body, would specifically take up this challenge and ensure that sanity prevailed in the industry.