The Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has announced a significant increase in navigation charges and fees for airlines, with a proposed 800% rate hike set to take effect from September 1.
According to NAMA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr Farouk Umar, the decision aligns with the prevailing economic realities and aims to ensure the sustainability of the agency’s operations.
The agency under the Federal Ministry of Aviation, which is responsible for managing the nation’s airspace and ensuring safety both on the ground and in the sky.
This marks the first time since 2008 that NAMA has revised its charges, which include en route navigational charges and terminal navigation charges for both domestic and international airlines.
During the 28th annual conference of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), themed “Aviation Survivability Amid a Challenging Macro-Economic Environment,” Umar highlighted the historical context of the charges.
He noted that since 2008, when a one-way one-hour flight ticket cost N16,000, NAMA had been charging N11,000 per flight. In contrast, airlines have regularly adjusted their fares in response to economic conditions, with current one-way flights costing between N150,000 and N200,000.
“It is in the light of this and in the spirit of this conference’s theme of survivability that NAMA announces the review of its fees and charges,” said Umar.
“Even though most costs in the economy have increased by more than 1,000 per cent, NAMA has proposed to increase its fees and charges by 800 per cent.”
The new charges include a unit rate of N18,000 for en route services, up from N2,000 per flight, and a new rate of N54,000 for the terminal navigation charge (TCN domestic), up from N6,000 per flight.
Additionally, the cost for extending hours of service will rise from N50,000 to N450,000 to cover expenses such as diesel and logistics.
The announcement has generated concern within the industry, with fears of a potential increase in airfares. However, Umar emphasized that NAMA plans to engage with stakeholders, particularly airlines, to discuss the rationale behind the fee adjustments.
