Aviation minister Festus Keyamo says President Bola Tinubu’s government has decided to grant domestic airlines discounts on debts they owe aviation agencies.

Mr Keyamo disclosed this in Abuja during a meeting with Heineken Lokpobiri, the deputy petroleum resources (oil) minister, airline operators and other aviation stakeholders.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria had earlier planned to suspend flight operations and increase airfares due to the high cost of Jet A1 fuel.

According to the minister, the percentage of the discount for domestic airlines will be determined by Mr Tinubu. He said the president had directed airlines to urgently submit formal requests regarding the proposed debt relief.

Mr Keyamo added that the president had also approved the establishment of a committee to review multiple taxes, levies and charges imposed on domestic flight tickets.

He said the committee was aimed at reducing the cost burden on both operators and passengers.

The minister said the federal government intervened swiftly to prevent disruption to air travel following the operators’ warning.

“A generous discount on debts owed to agencies such as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is under consideration,” he said.

Mr Lokpobiri said a meeting would be held with oil marketers on Thursday to address pricing concerns.

Speaking on behalf of AON, Air Peace’s CEO, Allen Onyema, requested a total waiver of airlines’ debts.

Mr Onyema also urged the government to strengthen the Bank of Industry to enable airlines to access loans at lower interest rates.

He described the reported 300 per cent increase in aviation fuel price as abnormal and called for caution by oil marketers. 

(NAN)