Foreign Airlines Incur N25 Billion Annually On Aircraft Towing Due To Lack Of Aero Bridges

Foreign Airlines Incur N25 Billion Annually On Aircraft Towing Due To Lack Of Aero Bridges

International airlines operating in Nigeria spend approximately N25 billion annually on aircraft towing services, as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has yet to import aero bridges that were previously procured.

In most developed countries, aero bridges are designed to align with aircraft doors, facilitating quick and seamless passenger disembarkation. However, in Nigeria, airlines are required to pay substantial fees to ground handling companies to tow their aircraft to aero bridges before passengers can alight. This practice not only incurs significant costs but also causes an average delay of about 20 minutes during passenger disembarkation….READ MORE….

An aero bridge, also known as a jetway or air bridge, is a telescopic passageway that connects the airport terminal directly to the aircraft, ensuring secure and efficient boarding and disembarkation.

It has been revealed that since 2014, 28 aero bridges were procured but have not been delivered from China, where they were originally purchased.

According to data from FAAN, the Murtala Muhammed Airport records an average of 21 takeoffs and 12 landings daily on the 18R/36L runway, amounting to approximately 630 takeoffs and 360 landings per month. Consequently, about 990 aircraft movements are recorded monthly at the international wing of the Lagos airport, translating to 11,880 annual aircraft operations.

Industry experts indicate that ground handling companies charge $1,350 to tow a large aircraft and $673 for a smaller one. Consequently, the total expenditure by international airlines on aircraft towing is estimated to be around $16,038,000 annually. At the current exchange rate of N1,534 per dollar, this translates to an annual cost exceeding N24.6 billion.

Former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and CEO of TopBrass Aviation, Roland Iyayi, expressed concerns over the situation, suggesting a possible collaboration between ground handling companies to maximize profits. He compared the situation to the relationship between generator companies and electricity suppliers, where one benefits from the other’s shortcomings.

Iyayi urged FAAN to prioritize the installation of the automated aero bridge systems to alleviate the financial burden on airline operators. Similarly, retired Captain Mohammed Badamosi called on the authority to expedite the process, emphasizing the importance of reducing unnecessary costs for airlines.

Despite several attempts to obtain comments, FAAN’s Director of Airport Operations, Abdullahi Mahmood, and Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, did not respond to inquiries regarding the issue.