The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said the need to comply with the new civil aviation regulations is among the reasons it introduced the general aviation charges for non-scheduled commercial operators.
The new charges, it was learnt, would replace previous charges, such as the landing and parking fees, the en route navigational charges and the passenger service charge.
The NCAA has also listed 26 airlines as those registered with Airline Operator Certificate (AOC).
Among the airlines are: Aero Contractors Company Nigeria Limited, Allied Air Limited, Arik Air Limited, Associated Aviation Limited and Atlantic Aviation Limited.
Others are: Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Caverton Helicopters, Chanchangi Airlines Limited, Dana Airlines, Dornier Aviation Nigeria AIEP Limited, First Nation Airways (SS) Limited and Hak Air Limited.
This list also includes IRS Airlines Limited, Jed Air, Kabo Airlines Limited, King Airlines and Travel Limited, Max Air Limited, Med View Airlines Nigeria Limited and Odengene Air Shuttle Services Limited.
Overland Airways Limited, Pan African Airlines Nigeria, Skybird Air, Skyjet Aviation Services Limited, Skypower Express Airways Nigeria Limited, Topbrass Aviation Limited and West Link Airways also made the list.
The Coordinating General Manager, Corporate Communications for Aviation Agencies, Yakubu Dati, spoke yesterday in Lagos on the list and related matters.
He said aircraft registered in Nigeria, in this category, would pay $3,000 (N480,000) per flight while airlines with foreign registered aircraft would pay $4,000 (N640,000) per flight.
Dati said: "In addition to the charges they replace, the new charges cover the newly introduced niche services for the category of clients, such as the use of the new General Aviation Terminal (GAT) facilities, including luxury VIP lounges, pilot lounges and crew rest rooms as well as refreshments."
The manager said the charges are based on the tariffs charged by the operators for their services.
He explained that this segment of the air transport industry "is one of the key focus areas of the Federal Ministry of Aviation in its industry transformation efforts".
Datti added: "Major investments have been and are still being made to provide appropriate infrastructural facilities for their service.s"
The manager said the charges are not meant for everybody who has and operates private jets but for those who use such aircraft for commercial purposes, including those who use foreign registered and locally registered aircraft.
Those who operate their jets for private business are exempted from these charges, he said.
An advertorial in major dailies said those who operate non-scheduled commercial flights are eligible to pay the charges.
Dati said the explanation was necessary because of the controversy caused by the introduction of the charges.
