KEY POINTS
- The focus keyphrase highlights heavy aviation taxation.
- The airline warns taxes weaken regional competitiveness.
- United Nigeria Airlines expands its Accra operations.
United Nigeria Airlines marked its debut flight to Accra with a colourful cultural showcase at both Abuja and Ghanaian airports.
The aircraft, named after late Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings, underscored the symbolic depth of the new route as dancers and drummers welcomed passengers on both ends.
The airline’s founder, Obiora Okonkwo, used the moment to discuss how aviation taxes in Nigeria continue to strain operators.
High charges burden carriers on regional routes
Okonkwo said aviation taxes in Nigeria remain a major threat to sustainability. He argued that passengers leaving Nigeria already pay $100 in combined levies before buying a ticket, while Ghana charges $60.
He warned that such gaps weaken Nigerian airlines and create unnecessary capital flight. He stressed that fair pricing and strong scheduling could help the Accra route thrive, given that half of West Africa’s regional traffic flows between Nigeria and Ghana.
Okonkwo added that Nigerian airlines have an unfair advantage because they can get loans abroad at 2–3 percent interest, but they have to pay more than 30 percent interest at home. He insisted that every extra charge inflates ticket prices and erodes margins needed for growth.
He noted that aviation remains capital-intensive and depends on access to affordable financing. Excessive charges, he added, violate global aviation principles requiring fees to align with service costs, not revenue ambitions.
The founder also criticized the one percent ECOWAS tax on aircraft imports, calling it senseless in a duty-free regime. He cautioned that upcoming security levies risk placing more strain on passengers while providing unclear value. He urged policymakers to treat aviation as essential infrastructure, not a revenue line.
Despite the pressure, United Nigeria Airlines plans to grow its fleet to nine aircraft by month-end. Okonkwo said the airline is prepared for the busy holiday season and hopes improved collaboration such as through the Spring Alliance will help Nigerian carriers compete more effectively on regional routes.
