MMIA terminal in Lagos
Another round of flight disruptions looming, as FAAN hikes oil marketers’ apron pass charges at airports
Another round of airlines’ strike now looms over the country aviation sector over decision by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to hike its Apron Pass charges paid by oil marketers from N150, 000 to N500, 000.
Oil marketers in the country access the airports to fuel airplanes on ground by paying the Apron Pass charges to the FAAN.
However, it is fear the peace of airport users, including air travellers in about to be disrupted again with the impending hike by FAAN on oil marketers, amid high cost of aviation of aviation over which the National Assembly and the Federal Government had to intervene recently to ensure normal flight services by airlines.
Though, FAAN has yet to confirm the hike officially, oil marketers already groaning under the new price regime, even as the airport management agency has continued to decry its low revenue base as it seeks to expand it following its claims that government has slashed its annual subventions.
The apron pass charge which used to be N150,000 per annum was jerked up to N500,000 per annum some weeks back with marketers negotiating with FAAN for a reduced N200,000 per annum.
However, FAAN says that is not the true picture as the marketers Apron passes expired and could not go in as per regulations.
It was further learnt that on Tuesday, FAAN heeded to the appeals for reduction and asked the marketers to pay N200,000 instead of the earlier demand but no time was given with the marketers arguing that it takes time to process.
As of Wednesday, the situation was said to have abated when the marketers were allowed in after an initial blockade by the airport managers.
However, as of Thursday morning, the situation has re-escalated following blockade by FAAN, as the oil marketers are unable to access their airline clients at the airport to refuel their airplanes.
With the delays to be experienced by airlines in accessing aviation fuel, it is expected that this will be translated into attendant flight disruptions as the country gets into the Easter celebrations gear.
Reacting, Acting General Manager Corporate Communication, FAAN, confirmed that the marketers’ Apron passes had expired and that the agency most of the operators were behind in regularizing subscription.
“You know it is a highly regulated industry and of we don’t play by the rules, it is still going to be put out there that we are wrong. Most of their apron passes expired and it’s an annual payment and they knew of this so they could have worked accordingly.
“How much is the increment, it’s from N150,000 to N200,000 and as you know it is within the law to review these charges. We are a revenue generation agency and do not get subventions from the government we depend on our internally generated revenue and we need these funds for maintenance and a whole lot, so it is not a crime to review,” she said.
Even after payment of the new charges, it is expected that there will be a time lapse in processing of the payment on the part of FAAN, a delay which will negatively impact on Easter travels for airport users.
