Aminu Agoha, President of NANTA, the umbrella body of all travel agencies operating in Nigeria, who addressed aviation correspondents in Lagos, said it had become necessary for the union to voice its concern on the ongoing rip-off of Nigerians and the economy by some of the major airlines operating in the country as it appeared there would be no end to the ugly trend unless key stakeholders, notably Nigerians, begin to speak up on the issue.
He listed fare disparity as the number one source of worry to the travel agents union, which the newly inaugurated government of President Muhammdu Buhari should look into.
Said Agoha: “We do not understand the great disparity in fares between what the foreign airlines offer to the Nigerian market and what they offer elsewhere in the world. The disparity in fares is alarming and we wonder why Nigeria should be singled out for this rip-off.
“We see no reason a flight ticket from Accra, Ghana to Europe or USA on some airlines would be cheaper than from Lagos to the same destinations on the same airline. For instance, a first class ticket to Las Vegas, USA from Lagos is N1.8 million more than a first class ticket to the same destination from Accra.
According to him, Nigerian travel agencies posted $2.3 billion raked in from ticket sales and tours organised in 2014. Of the amount, he said ticket sales alone accounted for $1.3 million. But he noted that the huge turnover, had failed to translate into great revenue for Nigerian travel agents as the base fares charged by foreign airlines were different from that charged in other countries while the commission was also drastically slashed.
“There is an increased influx of foreign airlines into the Nigerian market but these airlines are coming to Nigeria to rip us off. Their base fares are higher than what prevails for the same flight time for journeys originating from elsewhere in the world. And even when they offer promotional fares, the added taxes charged are so huge.”
SUN
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