Airfares to Nigeria may rise as FAAN increases passengers service charges

Airfares on domestic and international routes are set to rise as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is to increase the passenger service charges (PSC) on flight tickets by 100 per cent from 1 August 2020, according Punch.

The daily newspaper reported that the authority would increase the PSC on domestic flights from the current rate of N1,000 to N2,000 and on international flights from $50 to $100.

Airline operators confirmed the development to Punch correspondent on Friday in Abuja, as they stressed that the hike in PSCs would definitely be passed to passengers.

Airlines collect the PSCs on behalf of FAAN when selling flight tickets to passengers.

FAAN’s Managing Director, Rabiu Yadudu, made the agency’s position on PSCs known in a letter to airlines quoted by the newspaper.

Yadudu explained that the increase of the charges was to enable FAAN to improve and upgrade airport infrastructure across the country.

He noted that PSCs were last increased in 2011; domestic PSC was raised from N350 to N1,000, while that of international flights was raised from $35 to $50.

Confirming that the latest hike in PSCs would lead to an increase in airfares, the Chief Executive Officer, Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sansusi, said the charge would be included in ticket costs on domestic and international flights.

He said, “There has been discussions about this pre-COVID-19. However, the matter is simple; this money is not for airlines, rather passengers will pay it.

“We the airlines will just pass it to the passengers as the name suggests.”

The President, Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria, Kingsley Nwokeoma, kicked against the development.

“That is not a good thing for us this time. It means that FAAN is insensitive to the plights of citizens,” he stated.

Kola Tella