Nigeria’s aviation industry is facing growing financial pressure as airlines contend with more than 54 taxes, fees and regulatory charges imposed by government agencies, industry leaders have warned.

Allen Onyema, chairman of Air Peace, said the heavy burden of levies was increasing airfares, reducing airline margins and putting the long-term viability of domestic carriers at risk. He made the remarks in a keynote address at the 30th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos on Thursday.

Onyema called for the urgent consolidation and reduction of aviation taxes and charges, arguing that a more sustainable cost structure is essential for the development of Nigeria’s airline industry.

He said aviation contributes about $2.5 billion annually to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supports more than 217,000 jobs. Rather than treating the sector primarily as a source of government revenue, he urged policymakers to recognise its broader role in driving economic activity.

According to Onyema, aviation generates significant indirect economic benefits through tourism, hospitality, cargo, trade, employment and national connectivity. The financial health of airlines, he said, therefore has implications far beyond the carriers themselves.

While acknowledging that taxes and regulatory charges are needed to fund infrastructure, safety systems and regulatory institutions, Onyema warned that excessive and overlapping levies could have the opposite effect by weakening the airlines that underpin the wider aviation ecosystem.

He said airlines should not be viewed as a direct source of government revenue, but as an industry capable of generating wider economic activity that ultimately expands government revenues through tourism, trade and economic integration.

Airlines face dozens of government charges

Onyema said Nigerian airlines currently deal with about 54 different taxes, fees and charges imposed by major government institutions, including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).

FAAN alone, he said, collects about 18 separate payments from airlines. These cover services and facilities including electricity, counters, boarding bridges, office space, parking, landing, cargo and terminal operations.

NAMA collects five major charges, including en-route, terminal navigation, overflight, clearance and extension fees. Airlines are also required to pay corporate income tax to the NRS.

For the NCAA, the charges listed by Onyema include the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), five per cent Cargo Sales Charge (CSC), five per cent Excess Baggage Charge (EBC), licensing and medical certification fees, aircraft certification charges, Air Operator Certificate (AOC) fees and maintenance organisation charges, alongside other regulatory payments.

Only about six of these charges, he said, are directly included in every domestic air ticket. They comprise the Passenger Service Charge (PSC), Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) charge, Passenger Terminal Facility Charge, five per cent TSC, five per cent EBC and the $20 NCAA security levy.

He also pointed to the $11.50 Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) levy introduced by the NCAA in December 2025 as an additional cost affecting passengers.

The combined impact of these charges can add about N25,000 to domestic fares, depending on the route and airline, Onyema said. On international journeys, taxes and statutory charges can total between $150 and $180.

Rising costs put airline survival at risk

Onyema linked the financial pressure to the high failure rate among Nigerian airlines, saying more than 60 carriers have ceased operations or become defunct over the years.

He said African airlines already face higher operating costs than carriers in many other regions, with taxes, aviation fuel, insurance and aircraft leasing expenses placing further pressure on their margins.

At the conference, United Nigeria Airlines executive chairman and Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) spokesperson Prof. Okonkwo rejected claims that domestic airlines had failed to remit the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge to the NCAA.

Okonkwo said airlines had remained compliant with their financial obligations before the recent labour disputes. He said there had been no payment difficulties before February this year and that problems emerged after the cost of aviation fuel rose to N3,300 amid the US-Iran crisis.

According to Okonkwo, the AON was the first industry body to raise concerns about the financial impact of regulatory charges during the downturn. The association wrote to the President seeking either a suspension of the charges or temporary relief, a request he said was granted through a 30 per cent waiver.

Following the waiver, airlines met with the NCAA and the Ministry of Aviation to establish a repayment arrangement for outstanding obligations. Under the agreement, airlines were required to pay 10 per cent of their legacy debts within a specified period and settle the remaining balance through instalments.

Okonkwo said airlines complied with the arrangement and held meetings with the NCAA’s director of finance in Lagos and Abuja to establish individual payment plans.

He said United Nigeria Airlines went further by establishing joint accounts with the NCAA at Nigerian banks, allowing the regulator to withdraw funds directly in order to ensure payments were made without delays.

Airlines question value received for charges

Okonkwo also challenged claims that airlines were failing to meet their financial obligations, saying discussions about unpaid charges often overlooked the substantial sums already paid by operators.

He questioned whether airlines were receiving sufficient value from the money collected by regulators and other government agencies.

He cited aircraft inspections as an example, saying airlines are required to pay in advance when NCAA officials travel to locations such as London or the United States to conduct inspections.

Okonkwo argued that the five per cent charge was particularly burdensome because airlines must already meet numerous other tax obligations while financing expensive operations.

He called for continued efforts to eliminate the five per cent charge, saying the cost was too high for businesses operating under significant financial pressure.

The United Nigeria Airlines chairman acknowledged that unions have a legitimate interest in protecting aviation workers but argued that airlines remain among Nigeria’s better-paying sectors.

He also criticised what he described as an inappropriate display by labour unions at an airport, saying the incident could have seriously damaged the industry's reputation had it not been followed by widespread criticism.

Okonkwo praised the Aviation Roundtable president and aviation journalists for speaking out and reporting on the incident, while expressing disappointment that some other stakeholders had not publicly condemned the episode.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Oman Air will introduce its Winter 2026/27 schedule on October 25, increasing flight frequencies and capacity across the Gulf, Europe, Russia and Asia while expanding codeshare partnerships to improve global connectivity.

The airline will significantly increase European capacity, tripling its Zurich capacity compared with the summer season through the deployment of widebody aircraft on up to five weekly flights. Services to Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan and Istanbul will also rise to as many as five flights per week.

Flights to Moscow will double from four to up to eight weekly services, building on Oman Air’s 11-city European network and offering travellers more options for winter travel while improving access to Oman for international visitors.

The new schedule will also provide the first full winter operations for several destinations launched earlier this year. Singapore will receive four weekly flights, while Tashkent will retain twice-weekly services and Sochi will operate once a week.

To meet demand on popular routes, Oman Air will introduce weekly widebody services to Mumbai and Dhaka, adding capacity and offering passengers the comfort of its Boeing 787 aircraft.

Domestic services will also increase, with flights between Muscat and Khasab rising to up to four per week. The Muscat-Salalah route will operate up to five times daily throughout the winter season.

Oman Air is also broadening its codeshare network through new and expanded partnerships. Agreements with Lufthansa and SWISS will connect passengers to destinations including Edinburgh, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Bergen, Billund, Gothenburg and Oslo via the airlines’ hubs in Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich.

An expansion of the existing codeshare partnership with Malaysia Airlines will add Shanghai, Beijing Daxing and Guangzhou, extending Oman Air’s reach across Greater China.

Members of both airlines’ loyalty programmes will also benefit from oneworld recognition, including tier privileges and service benefits throughout their journeys.

The expanded winter schedule underscores Oman Air’s focus on improving international connectivity, adding capacity to high-demand routes and supporting inbound tourism to Oman.

Source: Trade Arabia News Service

KLM is preparing to cancel selected flights over the coming months as delays in aircraft maintenance and repairs leave more aircraft unavailable than anticipated.

The cancellations will run from 26 October 2026 until early March 2027. The Dutch airline aims to keep additional long-haul aircraft available as reserves to reduce last-minute schedule changes and improve operational reliability.

A KLM spokesperson told Dutch broadcaster NOS that the aircraft shortage has been caused by unplanned maintenance requirements, damage repairs and scheduled maintenance work taking longer than expected. Delays in spare-parts deliveries have also contributed to the situation.

In some cases, KLM has been operating services with aircraft different from those originally scheduled.

The airline has not yet disclosed the number of flights that will be cancelled or identified the affected destinations.

KLM said it would select flights for cancellation based on minimising the impact on passengers and providing opportunities for rebooking. The approach is intended to deliver a more reliable schedule throughout the winter period.

Source: QCAA

Turkish Airlines carried 9 million passengers in September 2026, achieving an overall passenger load factor of 86.8%, according to its latest traffic figures.

The airline reported an international load factor of 86.6%, while domestic services recorded a higher rate of 88.2%.

Available seat kilometres (ASK), a measure of passenger capacity, rose 2.5% year-on-year to 24.6 billion in September, compared with 24 billion during the same month in 2025.

Cargo operations also posted significant growth. Combined cargo and mail volumes increased by 13% year-on-year to 205,700 tonnes during the month.

For the first nine months of 2026, Turkish Airlines transported 73 million passengers, marking a 5.2% increase from the corresponding period last year.

The airline's overall load factor reached 85% during the January-September period. International services recorded an 84.8% load factor, while domestic operations achieved 86.7%.

Passenger capacity, measured in ASK, expanded by 4.4% to 212.2 billion, up from 203.3 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

Cargo and mail traffic continued to grow, rising 10.6% year-on-year to 1.8 million tonnes, compared with 1.6 million tonnes during the same period a year earlier.

By the end of September 2026, Turkish Airlines operated a fleet of 567 aircraft.

The reported traffic figures are consolidated and cover operations under both the Turkish Airlines main brand and its subsidiary AJet.

Source: Trade Arabia News Service

Qatar Airways has announced the cancellation of additional flights scheduled for October 11, 2026, citing operational reasons, as disruptions affecting services between Doha and Riyadh continue.

The latest travel alert adds to previously announced cancellations affecting flights on October 9 and 10. The airline said it is continuing to monitor its operations and provide passengers with updated travel information through its official channels.

Three Flight Pairs Cancelled

The Qatar Airways flights cancelled for October 11 are:

• QR1170/1171
• QR1172/1173
• QR1236/1237

The cancellations affect services between Doha and Riyadh in both directions.

Qatar Airways said the safety of its passengers and crew remains its highest priority while it manages the operational situation.

Passengers Advised to Check Before Travel

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to check the latest information through the Qatar Airways website or mobile application.

Travellers are also encouraged to verify their individual flight status before heading to the airport, as further operational updates could affect scheduled services.

Qatar Airways has indicated that additional information will be provided through its official channels as the situation develops.

Further Updates Expected

The October 11 cancellations follow the airline’s earlier cancellation announcements for October 9 and 10. Information concerning services between Doha and Riyadh may be updated as Qatar Airways issues further notices.

Passengers are advised to rely on the airline’s latest official updates for changes to their flight schedules, booking arrangements and travel plans.

Dubai-based airline flydubai has cancelled flights to Riyadh and Yanbu until October 10, while services to Abha will remain suspended until October 11 as regional tensions continue to disrupt air travel in Saudi Arabia.

A flydubai spokesperson confirmed the cancellations, saying the airline was closely monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant authorities. The carrier said passengers would receive updates on schedule changes through its official communication channels.

The suspensions follow attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said on Friday that three Saudi nationals had been killed and several others injured in two separate attacks.

According to the authority, the first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck an aircraft operated by Saudia. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attacks. Airport operations subsequently resumed.

flydubai has advised affected passengers to visit the Manage Booking section of its official website, flydubai.com, to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents have been advised to contact their agents directly.

The airline apologised for the disruption and said it would continue to communicate relevant updates to passengers as the situation develops.

Source: Gulf News