DEVELOPING:

Any Nigerian flying outside the country will buy ticket in United States dollars (not Naira) effective April 19,2022-International Airline Carriers in Nigeria

… Blame action on worsening shortage of foreign exchange in the country, difficulty in repatriating airlines’ funds stuck in Nigeria and other countries

*Foreign carriers’ unremitted ticket sale proceeds in Nigeria reportedly hit $283m (about N116.87bn)

*Notable carriers on the latest agreement include: South African Airways, Fly Dubai, Kenya Airways, Middle East Airlines; Royal Air Maroc, Rwanda Air, Thai Airways; Turkish Airlines, French Bee, Egypt Air; ASKY, Air Seychelles, Air Algerie, and Air Namibia. Others are: Air Panama, Air Burkina, Avianca; Bangkok Airways, Cabo Verde Airlines, Fiji Airways; Hong Kong Airlines, and Malaysian Air

*“Blocked airlines funds are pretty high in Africa. I think it is about $601m in Africa across 17 countries. It is very much a case of Africa as a continent probably having the most blocked funds around the world”-Willie Walsh, Director-General, IITA

*BY BAYO ADEYEMI/AVIATION Reporter, Abuja

TOUGH times await Nigerian travelers who intend flying Overseas shortly as foreign airlines in the country have concluded plans to ensure that all international planes flying outside the shores of Africa’s most populous black nation purchase their tickets in United States dollars (no longer in Naira). Reasons given by the foreign airlines are the worsening, fluctuating Forex exchange and inability for the airliners to remit funds made from proceeds outside the continent of Africa.  Some of the foreign airlines flying into Nigeria will on April 19 begin the sale of their tickets in dollars amid the worsening shortage of foreign exchange in the country.

The development came as foreign carriers’ unremitted ticket sale proceeds in Nigeria reportedly hit $283m (about N116.87bn) recently.

It was learnt on Wednesday that international airlines on APG Interline Electronic Ticketing Agreements GP code 275 would start issuing tickets in dollars, effective April 19, 2022.

According to the group, the development follows the difficulty in repatriating airlines’ funds stuck in Nigeria and other countries, coupled with foreign exchange fluctuations.

In a travel advisory to its trade partners, titled, “APG IET: Restrictions of Sales in US Dollars”, APG said, “Dear travel partners, warm greetings from APG. This is to bring to your notice that with effect from April 19, 2022, GP would only accept issuing of tickets in US dollars and not Naira.

“This is mainly due to repatriation issues and the Forex situation in the country. This would most likely be a temporary measure till the Forex situation improves. Our sincere apologies for any inconveniences this may cause to you and your business. Thank you for understanding.”

Notable carriers on the APG IET platforms include South African Airways, South African Airways, Fly Dubai, Kenya Airways, Middle East Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Rwanda Air, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, French Bee, Egypt Air, ASKY, Air Seychelles, Air Algerie, and Air Namibia. Others are Air Panama, Air Burkina, Avianca, Bangkok Airways, Cabo Verde Airlines, Fiji Airways, Hong Kong Airlines, and Malaysian Air amongst others.

Some of the carriers which fly directly into Nigeria are South Africa Airways, Turkish Airlines, Asky Airlines, Egypt Air, Royal Air Maroc, Middle East Airlines, Rwanda Air and Kenya Airways.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had recently asked the Federal Government to facilitate the repatriation of ticket sales proceeds trapped in Nigeria.

He said, “Aviation business suffers from issues of foreign exchange by local and foreign airlines and their inability to repatriate blocked funds. Nigeria currently holds $283mn worth of foreign airlines fund in the country. I humbly ask for the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria through the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari, to aid access of both local and foreign airlines to foreign exchange.”

The Director-General, International Air Transport Association, the global trade body representing over 230 international airlines, Willie Walsh, had recently said the blockade of airline revenues contravenes international conventions and could slow the recovery of travel and tourism in affected markets as the airline industry struggles to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

“Blocked airlines funds are pretty high in Africa. I think it is about $601m in Africa across 17 countries. It is very much a case of Africa as a continent probably having the most blocked funds around the world,” Walsh said.

The latest development may worsen the challenges faced by Nigerian travelers who may have to source Forex from the parallel market to purchase their tickets.

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