Ikeja — Aero Contractors Airline, yesterday, announced the re-introduction of a fuel surcharge of N500 on all its tickets with immediate effect.

A N300 fuel and handling surcharge announced by the airline on May 18 was stopped by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
NCAA had said the airline did not take permission from it before its  introduction.

Aero claimed that the fuel surcharge was aimed at cushioning the effect of the increase in the price of aviation fuel in Nigeria, which it claimed was one of the highest in the world.

A statement by the airline yesterday said the new charge was to “moderate the effect of the unprecedented rise in aviation fuel prices in Nigeria.

“We have always offered competitive fares on all our routes. The introduction of the fuel surcharge is to ensure more transparent pricing.

“Fuel costs are being closely monitored, we promise to review the surcharge immediately the cost of fuel goes down,” said the statement by its Head of Commercial, Mr Robert Prophet.

The statement also quoted the Director-General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, as agreeing that fuel was one of the highest operating costs of airlines.

Commenting on the development, Media Assistant to the NCAA boss, Mr Sam Adurogboye, however, said Aero had been summoned for a meeting over the matter.

“The issue of either to introduce or not to introduce a fuel surcharge by Aero is on. The meeting has not been concluded,” Adurogboye said.