…Says Those Trying To Derail The Agency Are Confusionists
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reaffirmed the sanctity of the recently released statistical data on the aviation industry.
The agency said that the figures are verifiable and that no amount of push and shove can cast aspersion on our figures, adding that the system and processes of generating and gathering data are in line with best practices and international standards.
Recalled that NCAA recently released both domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria tickets put at N502.2 billion in 2017 and that the ticket sale increased by 14.2 per cent (N82.7 billion) from N422.4 billion in 2016.
According to NCAA, the airlines also made N400. 9 million in 2017 through cargo charges, an increase from N285 million generated in 2016.
However, the figures have come under scrutiny by those the regulatory body described as confusionists
The stated that this in an online statement issued by the General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr Sam Adurogboye today in lagos.
The regulator’s body statement advised stakeholders and the public to resist all attempts to create confusion and cast doubts on the figures adding that it was clearly a result of crass ignorance and the purveyors being too clever by half.
“The process of generating data is as stipulated in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015 Part 18.12.5. “all domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria shall forward to the Authority through an electronic platform provided by the Authority, all relevant documents such as flown coupons, passenger or cargo manifests, air waybills, load sheets, clients’ service invoices and other documents necessary for accurate billing within forty-eight (48) hours after each flight.”
It continued, “In addition, as part of the billing requirements, the Authority collects billable data from airlines, photocopy of flown coupons and Post Departure Manifest (PDM) of international flight operations. All these are International Air Transport Association (IATA) documents which NCAA cannot influence. The Flown Coupons contain specific information required by IATA before billings are done and issued. These are Ticket Number, Name of Passenger, Ticket Sales Charge (NG) etc. It is noteworthy that the prerequisite NCAA 5% TSC paid by passengers is indicated on the ticket. These data are warehoused by NCAA and can be verified.”
Adurogboye in the statement contended that the domestic billing process requires the airline to submit to the authority its Passenger Departure Manifest (PDM) immediately after every flight departure, stressing that it is from the filed fares that 5 per cent TSC is calculated and that the Automated Integrated System ensures authenticity between NCAA server and airlines.
Explaining further NCAA stated that the process of billing 5 per cent Cargo Sales Charge (CSC) requires the airline to submit Airway Bill in accordance to the Nig.CARs and that the weight and rate stated on the Airway bill is used in the calculation of the CSC.
The regulatory agency however stated that it was pertinent to state that the statistics available for 5 per cent CSC is not the same as the harmonised figures, adding that cargo data captures the total weight of the cargo (import and export) while NCAA chargeable weight is on export cargo only.
It also reminded the public that foreign airlines with Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) do not pay royalty on cargo airlift, though the cargo weights are captured but not billable.
NCAA , the spokesman said authenticates the automated data output with the hard copy data submitted by the airlines and that this serves as verification and determination of the actual flown passengers.
Diplomats, infants less than 2(two) years and those whose journeys do not originate from Nigeria (ticket sold offshore), NCAA stated are categorised as non revenue passengers and are therefore exempted from 5% TSC calculation.
NCAA added that in ticket sales there are promotional, discounted, staff and low season’s fares, adding that it is the aggregate of these that mischief makers sum up and begin to tout figures.
Airline fares, it said are not constant and that they are not similar across routes and continental distances, arguing that it was preposterous for anyone to attach the same fare to all passengers as the confusionists have done.
According to NCAA, “It is absolutely impossible for any airline to remit 5% TSC on passengers not flown. The airlines carry out a scrutiny of NCAA billing using their flown coupons before remittances of sales charge to NCAA.
On international flights, NCAA stated that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) provides support via Billing Settlement Plan (BSP) through its Clearing House, verification and direct collection of 5 per cent TSC. All the above processes attest to the sanctity of our figures.
The agency assured that it would continue to ensure due diligence in data collation, adding that the prevalent distraction would not deter the regulatory authority from providing a robust regulation that would engender safe and secure airline operations.
