Aviation Ground Handlers Asso­ciation of Nigeria (AGHAN) has officially written to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), notifying it of the upward review for handling services in the domestic scene.

A letter dated February 2, 2024, addressed to the President, AON, with the head, ˜Notification of In­crease in Domestic Minimum Han­dling Rates in Nigeria, and obtained by Daily Independent, said that the review was necessary due to the eco­nomic reality in the country, which it said had nosedived since the last review was made about three years ago.

The letter, which was signed by Mr. Adigun Olaniyan, Chairman; Mr. Ahmed Gulmah, Vice Chair­man, and Prince Saheed Lasisi, Financial Adviser, all of AGHAN, showed about 300 percent increase in the new charges when compared to the old rates.

For instance, the proposed new rates indicated that for the handling companies to provide services for a Boeing 737 aircraft or its equivalent, airlines would pay about N400,000 per flight instead of the initial N70,000.

For CRJ, Embraer, the new rate is N250,000 from N50,000, while Dash 8 or its equivalent now goes for N150,000 per flight from the for­mer N25,000.

For its single item rates, push­back now goes for N200,000 per ser­vice from the initial N22,000; Aircraft Cooling System (ACU) per hour, N150,000 from N25,000; Air Start Unit (ASU) per hour, N200,000 from N22,000; Ground Power Unit (GPU), N180,000 from N20,000, also per hour, while repositioning increased to N250,000 from the former N28,000.

Others are towing repositioning to other terminal, N320,000 from N33,500 per towing; toilet/water service, N150,000 from N17,500 per service; tow bar repositioning/tow­ing aircraft, N120,000 from N12,500; tractor per hour, N150,000 from the initial N20,000; mobile step, N120,000 from N15,000 per service; conveyor belt, N150,000 from N20,000 per ser­vice, while cargo per KG now rises to N25 from the initial N5.

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The AGHAN also said that it had complied with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and recommended prac­tices on aviation rates review, having met with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other rele­vant bodies before coming up with the new rates.

The letter also stated that the new regime would take effect from March 31, 2024 and appealed to the airlines to comply with the rates for effective performance and seamless delivery.

The letter also reads in part, We wish to thank the airlines for their understanding, support and coop­eration on this matter. We also want to further assure airlines of our en­during commitment towards safety handling in the countrys aviation industry, this will culminate in an improved service delivery geared towards safer skies in Nigeria.

Given the foregoing and in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and recommended practices on aviation rates review/adjustments, AGHAN, hereby seeks your maximum coop­eration and understanding towards seamless implementation of the above safety ground handling rates and single item rates from the period highlighted in paragraph 1 above.

Mr. Adeniyi Adigun, the Chair­man, AGHAN, in an interview with Daily Independent over the weekend, had said that there was no going back on the upward review of the existing rates. (Daily Independent)