The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has attributed disruption and cancellation of flights to lack of capacity by airlines.

The Authority, while stating that inadequate aircraft for flight operations has been the major cause of disruption, however, noted that the recently signed Practice Direction (Cape Town Convention) and Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) would enable airlines to access more aircraft and boost the growth in the sector.

The Authority expressed optimism that access to the aircraft would put an end to flight disruptions and reduce the cost of airfares to boost the country?s economy.

These were disclosed in Abuja on Wednesday by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of NCAA, Michael Achimugu at the Civil Aviation Conference with the theme: ?Building Viable Aviation Industry for National Economic Growth and Development?.

He said: ?We have capacity problem in Nigeria. We simply do not have enough aircraft to ferry people around the country. The Minister and the DGCA have stated this before and we will not help ourselves by hiding the truth.

?We have capacity problems but there are also solutions and the most important of the solutions is the signing of the Practice direction; Cape Town Convention as well as the signing of the revised advisory circular on Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA).

?Now, more planes can come into the country and if we have adequate number of planes, there would be automatic reduction in flight disruptions because lack of capacity is one of the major reasons why there are flight disruptions.

?When there is disruption in flight schedule, it affects the remaining schedule for the day because the airline does not have alternative aircraft to ferry people, hence they would have to waste passengers time and everything would suffer. If they have enough aircraft in their fleet, these issues will no longer arise,? he added.

He also noted that the NCAA and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were calibrating some airports to address issues of flight disruptions and delays.

?Also, there are some airports that need calibration. We have engaged NAMA and they said the calibration aircraft is in Germany for maintenance. It is due back to the country in one week and once that comes, flight to certain airports like Asaba and others would become easier. Not every disruption is the fault of the airline; we on our part have lots of work to do also.

He added that increment in fleet of the airlines would also lead to reduction in airfares.

?There have also been issues of multiple taxes and the relevant authorities and departments are looking into those issues to see areas where they can give airlines soft landing. By the time we have sorted out the number of planes in the country, Jet fuel and taxes, there would be a drop in the cost of airfares,? he said. (The Nation)

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