Aviation: Operators decry poor handling charges

The Aviation Ground Handling Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) has said it is worried over the poor rates for handling services.

The group said it would want to work with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to achieve uniform prices among operators in Africa since there was a wide margin in fees charged by Nigerian operators and other countries.

The President of AGHAN, Mr Olaniyi Adigun, stated this at the LAAC conference in Lagos.

Daily Trust reports that ground handling rates in Nigeria remain the lowest in Africa.

For instance in Guinea, foreign airlines are charged $1,673 (narrow body) and $4,715 (wide body); Senegal $2,250 and $5,259; Cameroon $1,400 and $4,500; Sierra Leone $2,250 and $5,250 and Ghana $1,500 and $4,150.

Cargo flight attracts $2,300, $1,750, $2,300 and $2,500 in Senegal, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Ghana respectively for narrow body aircraft, while for wide body aircraft, the ground handlers in those countries charge between $4,450 and $5,250 per flight.

In his presentation, the AGHAN president said the group was willing to work with the NCAA to set up operating, safety and security standards.

He said, ‘’Any rate below the established safety threshold for ground handling has the tendency to jeopardise safety and security and loss of revenue to the federal government through the five per cent concessionary fees paid by the handling companies to the government.”