To ease the bottleneck and fluctuating exchange rate of the Nigerian Naira against major international currencies special window for the procurement of foreign exchange for airlines in Nigeria has been advocated.

Chairman of the newest entrant into the Nigerian flying industry,United Nigeria Airline, Dr.Obiora Okonkwo made the appeal in Lagos while speaking with Airport Correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

“Foreign Exchange is big problem. I advocate a special window for the airlines in the industry because of the peculiar nature of this area of the national economy.”

According to Dr.Obiora,airlines in Nigeria contribute immensely to the development of the nation’s economy and also in a manner of national security.

On the waver for aircraft spare,”I commend the Federal Government. It is very good. But it is cumbersome to access the waver which comes through the Ministry of Finance.

Speaking on rising cost of Jet A-1(Aviation Fuel),Dr.Obiora who is also a High Chief in Anambra expressed his concern about the upward movement of the commodity.

“It is a thing of concern. We started operation when the fuel was about N160.Now,it is N270.He said one expects that price of ticket should increase. Certain cost components have to increase with rising cost of fuel.”

“We are using Embraer aircraft for our operation because the aircraft does not guzzle much fuel like some other model of planes.The Bazilian made aeroplane is fuel efficient,easy to maintain.”

“With effective fuel utilization,we will be able to manage the airline very well.You know Embraer aircraft carries 50 passengers. We are probably more blessed than others.”

 According to the chairman,the Company had approached the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) to give it a space of land to site its Maintenance Repairs Overhaul(MRO).

“We believe not long from now,we will have it.The MRO not just for us alone,is for  the whole public where other airlines from within and outside Nigeriat can bring their equipment for maintenance. We want to introduce it as another form of new business.”

“With the array of qualified and experienced aircraft maintenance engineers,we give ourselves twenty four months when we will be able to do all the categories of our maintenance locally”.

Dr. Obiora disclosed that very soon the Airline would be going for wider body aircraft because Embraer baggage compartment is small.He said the airline which started operations eight weeks ago had carried 25000 passengers.