Dr. Alex Nwuba, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, asserts that the Nigerian aviation industry ranks among the premier locations globally to launch an airline. He shared this perspective during a recent interview with DAILY POST.
His comments serve as a direct rebuttal to a recent assessment by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which claimed Nigeria was one of the least favorable places to establish an airline, alongside Afghanistan. IATA pointed to excessive taxation and high ticket prices as primary justifications for its negative outlook.
Nwuba maintains that Nigeria offers significant potential, suggesting that current operators are simply struggling to optimize profitability. He encourages local carriers to prioritize domestic and regional routes rather than attempting long-haul operations. According to Nwuba, local airlines often lack the necessary strategic direction to capitalize on the existing market. Meanwhile, the industry continues to grapple with rising costs, as JetA1 fuel prices have soared, leading to one-hour flight prices ranging from N90,000 to N150,000.