All 30 international airlines operating in Nigeria pay a minimum of N1billion annually into the coffers of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL) and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance) to tow their aircraft to the Skybridges, which is the final point to disembark for passengers, BusinessDay’s findings show.
Nigeria is about the only country where airlines are towed to their parking spots, incurring airlines an additional operational cost that could be avoided, industry operators tell BusinessDay.
According to the 2017 figures from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Organisation, (NCAA) on passenger movement, international airlines operate 30 flights on the average every day from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). This implies that in 365 days, the airport will process nothing less than 10,950 flights annually.
Ground handling companies charge airlines $250 per aircraft towed. This implies that airlines pay a minimum of $2.74 million every year to tow their aircraft to the finger. This amounts to N999 million annually using an average exchange rate of N365 to a dollar.
This amount excludes additional charges airlines pay for towing the aircraft as a result of flight cancellations, delays and repairs.
A source with an understanding of the airline industry told BusinessDay said it is only in Nigeria that aircrafts are towed to the finger instead of taxying.
The source alleged that many firms had personally requested to assist the concerned aviation agencies fix the problem but they have refused because of the amount they realise from towing aircraft to the finger on a daily basis.
But another source close to aviation regulators explained that the reason why airlines pay to tow their aircraft is because the fingers at the airports are not large enough to enable pilots park without having their aircraft parts damaged.
John Ojikutu, member of aviation industry think tank group, Aviation Round Table (ART) and chief executive of Centurion Securities, told BusinessDay that the fingers in most of Nigerian airports were built in 1975, and no improvement has been done on them. He said apart from the fingers in Abuja airport, those at other airports are out-dated and may not accommodate certain aircraft types if they are taxied. Thus, the airlines have no choice but to tow them to the finger
“Some airlines insist on using certain fingers. In 2007, Virgin was using Airbus 340 which had a long wing span and Emirates was flying Boeing 777. The two of them chose fingers that were close to each other. The pilot alone cannot safely park that aircraft side by side with the other one. So, they park outside and the towing vehicle will come and tow them to the finger.
“At some other times, it is the type of aircraft and airmanship of the pilot that will determine if he parks by himself or tows the aircraft. The pilots most times do not trust the marshal’s directions, so they request for a towing vehicle to move it quietly into the position,” Ojikutu added.
Meanwhile Dana Air yesterday carried out its scheduled operations despite the overshooting the runaway on Tuesday night, the second incident to hit the airline within a week.
This is as the airline yesterday was delisted from International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) register until it upgrades safety records.
The IOSA is a requirement and precursor to full IATA membership; membership of IATA accords an airline a range of operational benefits such as enhanced opportunities for interline and code-share agreements.
The Dana aircraft numbered 9J0363, flying from Abuja to Port Harcourt airport overshot the Port Harcourt runway leading to evacuation of passengers.
The incident is suspected to have been caused by a heavy rain, which was accompanied by strong wind and storm in Port Harcourt.
No casualty was recorded, as all passengers on board were safely evacuated.
But despite the incident, Sam Adurogboye, Spokesperson for Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that the airline has continued to carry out its scheduled operations while they wait for the reports from the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).
“We are waiting from the AIB. The airline is operating now and our team is on ground. This will help us take an informed decision,” Adurogboye told BusinessDay.
A source close to the airline said everything lies in the hands of the AIB. “It is not even about the air worthiness of the aircraft but the weather that is why the airline is still flying.
“AIB has left the scene of the incident because they told everyone to stay away. They have taken the things they want from the aircraft and the passengers have been given their bags. The airline has also been calling the passengers that if anybody has shock as a result of the incident, the person will be treated.”
A source in one of the insurance companies that insured the airline said that the managing director of the airline informed them of the incident and now they have to pay part of the cost for insuring the aircraft.

Flight operations also resumed yesterday, February, 21, 2018, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, after a ban on the airport was lifted following the crash landing of a Dana airplane No. 5N-SRI from Abuja to Port Harcourt.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) lifted the temporary ban on airline operations at the airport; by 9am today 21st February 2018, all the airlines resumed their normal flight schedules to Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the Country.
IFEOMA OKEKE
