Despite the existence of the Federal Government’s policy granting waiver on importation of aircraft spares, airline operators have lamented its non-implementation eight years after.
Air Peace chairman and CEO Allen Onyema, who is also the Vice President of Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), spoke in Abuja when the airline received the second of 13 new E195-E2 aircraft which arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA).
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In 2016, President Buhari issued an Executive Order giving further effect to the policy.
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in June 2016 had referred airline operators to the Federal Government 2013 Fiscal Policy measures, Ref No. BD.12237/S.1008/T/11 dated January 15, 2013, that all commercial aircraft and its spare parts imported shall attract import duty rate of zero percent and zero percent VAT.
Onyema, however, said despite the existence of this policy, the operators are still being burdened with duty payment on imported aircraft spares, disclosing that an aircraft engine he imported has been stranded at the port for over one month.
“An engine which should be cleared in one day has taken over one month to clear. In the neighbouring Republic of Benin, it takes 48 hours to clear goods,” he said.
He warned that if the policy on the aircraft waiver was not immediately implemented, airlines might begin to shut down any time soon.
The Air Peace Chairman also reiterated that with the arrival of more of the brand-new aircraft, the airline would gradually phase out old planes in its fleet.
He said the airline’s order for the 10 Boeing Max 737 planes is still intact, noting the order would not be cancelled.
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