Regional Vice President of IATA warns against raising airport fees
6th February 2023 11:30:41 AM
2 mins readGhana has been warned against the increase in airport fees by Kamil H. Al-Awadhi, the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East.
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He said during the 4th Aviation Ghana stakeholder forum, held on Tuesday in Accra, "Ghana must avoid the temptation of increasing Airport charges against IATA's norms and regulations."
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He claimed that violating IATA regulations by raising airport fees would harm the nation's booming aviation sector.
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As part of the programme, there was a panel discussion on the topic “Post COVID-19 Recovery Process and the Journey Ahead”, to consider measures to promote the aviation industry.
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In his remarks, Mr Al-Awadhi said resilience had been the hallmark of the aviation industry globally since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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He said the global aviation industry in 2020 lost $6.9 billion out of the predicted figure of $9.7 billion.
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“The global aviation industry expects to make a profit of $4.7 billion in 2023, the first profit to be made since 2019,” he said.
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Mr Al-Awadhi disclosed that Africa’s aviation sector in the year 2020 lost $638 million and the loss was expected to be reduced to $213 million in 2023.
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He called on governments in Africa to put measures in place to spur the growth and recovery of the sector.
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“An enabling regulatory environment will help in job creation and recovery of Africa’s aviation sector,” Mr Al-Awadhi stated.
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The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, who was the special guest, said the global economy depended heavily on the aviation industry.
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“Aviation connects people, cultures and businesses. Indeed, the importance of the industry cannot be overstated,” he said.
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He assured that the government would continue to create an environment for the aviation sector to thrive.
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The Deputy Minister of Transport, Alhaji Alhassan Tampuli, responding to the issue of high Airport Charges, said Ghana had one of the lowest Airport Passenger Service Charge in Africa.
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He said the Airport Passenger Service Charge was GH¢ 1 in 2009, and increased to GH¢ 5 in 2010, and since 2010 the levy has not been increased.
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Alhaji Tampuli said Guinea Bissau and Gambia charged between $6 and $13 as Airport Passenger Service Charge, and the average in West Africa was $4.63.
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He said Ghana’s Airport Passenger Service Charge in dollar terms was $0.41.
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Alhaji Tampuli said the Airport Passenger Service Charge was woefully inadequate.
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