Allen Onyema, chairman of the AON, urged for discrepancies
to be addressed as they contribute to the reasons of delays during the
introduction of the book ‘Air Transportation In Nigeria: The Lingering
Expectations’ at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Annex.
Onyema stated that even in the case of overseas operations,
Nigerian airlines are allowed only three counters to work from, while foreign
airlines are granted a vast expanse of space, which is a disservice to
Nigerians attempting to succeed in a difficult situation.
He remarked that airlines were not completely responsible
for delays because people who were meant to give infrastructure and assistance
to airlines were busy de-marketing them.
Onyema said, “In aviation, there is no half and half, we are
prepared. Yuletide season or not, we are prepared but we need to have the
infrastructure to make it happen. In a situation where that is lacking then
there are going to be problems.
“Airlines are prepared, they have the means. Most airlines
are using two planes and the NCAA is alive to its duties of regulating us
properly, safety is assured that I can tell you. The issue of seamless
operations is out of our hands. The airport authority must have some questions
to answer too.”
On what airlines had done to notify the authorities of this
anomaly, he added, “We have written to FAAN; in fact, the AON has written to
both the ministry and FAAN regarding the Abuja check-in facility. There are
nine or 10 airlines in a rather small area, which is hardly encouraging.
“However, a few days ago, the MD of FAAN spoke to me and
said they were going to do something about it. What we are asking for is
expansion. The old international terminal (Abuja) is lying fallow.
“Airlines, some of us should go there so we have enough
counters for check-in. Not when they give you two counters and you’re checking
in thousands of people, delays will surely come, and I tell the flying public
to stop blaming the airlines for delays.
“10 airlines in one cubicle in Abuja is unacceptable,
cramping the airlines without facilities. The airlines are not responsible for
all the delays on routes flown.”