Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA has denied the allegation that non- scheduled airlines, private jet operators, have shut down their operations in protest against the new aviation charges introduced for the use of general aviation terminals at the nation’s airports.
The Managing Director of the agency, Engineer Nnamdi Udoh said “ that the allegation was false as serious non- scheduled operators are still operating their normal flights at our various airports. The few operators who could not operate are those who are yet to comply with the new regime.”
”As of midday today,{Thursday) more than 30 operators have paid the requisite fee and are freely enjoying our services.The charges are in compliance with section 30(2) (9) and (c) of the Civil Aviation Act of 2006.”
Udoh further said “The charges are jointly collected on behalf of all agencies that provide services at our newly constructed and designated private terminals in Lagos, Abuja and 11 other airports where these private terminals would be constructed. In the past, non-scheduled airlines paid different charges to different aviation agencies for the services they render them, with the attendant bottlenecks associated with such arrangement. “
“Today, when a non-scheduled airline pays this new charge, it does not need to pay other separate charges to any of the service-providing agencies anymore. The new charges constitute a luxury tax, which is acceptable internationally for the type of services offered by private jet operators, and it is used to maintain highly exclusive facilities provided at these luxury terminals, including limousine services (as in the case of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja)
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