The Federal Government has secured a window for indigenous carriers to explore discussions for aircraft financing and leasing with players in the global space.
The new arrangement is part of the support programme being packaged for indigenous operations who have been struggling with opportunities to secure aircraft to boost their fleet and other cost saving measures.
To drive the new move, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo said Nigeria has been invited to the Republic of Ireland where global lessors will be unveiling packages for carriers.
The Nations reports that disclosing at the weekend during the 10 years anniversary of Air Peace, Keyamo said the forum will provide a window for global players in the aircraft financing and leasing space to interface with Nigerian carriers on sustainable models.
The minister said the Federal Government is becoming increasingly worried why Nigerian carriers experience bust and boom circle.
He said the high attrition rate of indigenous carriers has become so disturbing despite the Boeing study on the inherent opportunities in Nigeria concerning the air transport value chain.
Keyamo said :” Why is Nigeria experiencing high mortality rate for airlines. The Federal Government is frontally addressing this concern and with the interventions currently in place, we are getting closer to fixing the challenge. Issues about to access aircraft leasing and financing is under focus as the government is utilising every opportunity to assist our local carriers.”
Also speaking, Sales Director Boeing Commercial Aircraft, Mr Moore Ibekwe said the airplane maker is consolidating strategies to enhance the growth and development of the airline industry in Nigeria.
Part of what is required, Ibekwe said, is for government and airlines to improve transport infrastructure and other interventions needed to take the industry to the next level.
From the domestication of the necessary instrument to accelerate the implementation of the Cape Town Convention (CTC), the Boeing official said Nigeria is gaining global endorsement to facilitate opportunities for aircraft leasing and financing.
Significantly, Ibekwe said Boeing is working on an assistance project to assist Nigeria and her airlines in aircraft financing, advisory on operational/business models, getting the airports ready for the future as well as the required interventions for the relevant aeronautical regulatory authorities.
On his part, Chairman /Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the revolution , through series of interventions to curb the high mortality rate of airlines in Nigeria.
Onyema said with the recent bold steps put in place by the government to enhance the global perception of Nigeria in the global aircraft leasing space, indigenous operators could now access dry leasing of airplanes at a ridiculously lower rate compared to direct purchase of the equipment.
He hailed Keyamo for his collaboration with indigenous carriers in addressing serious industry issues.
Onyema said :” Keyamo’s decision has been in the best overall industry interest especially recent efforts to make it easier for Nigerian carriers to dry lease airplanes. As much as the operator meets the specifications set by lessors, it is a lot convenient to explore the inherent opportunities instead of direct purchase of aircraft.”
