The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers has asked the Federal Government to empower domestic airlines to enable them take the slots of foreign airlines pulling out of the country.
Isaac Balami, the President of NAAPE, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.
Balami said there was probability that more foreign airlines would leave the Nigerian sky as a result of the biting economic situation.
According to him, it is, therefore, time to empower strong domestic airlines in the country to take over from the foreign airlines that have closed shop.
Balami said: “I see it as an opportunity for our airlines to come up. Let Arik, Medview and other airlines that want to fly international bring in powerful machines such as air buses to compete.
“Airlines must take advantage of foreign airlines pulling out of the country to step up their game and government must encourage strong local airlines to take over their slots, and before they come back, we have already taken our shares.”
Balami decried the domination of the country’s aviation sector by expatriates, urging the government to enact laws to protect the jobs of indigenous pilots and engineers.
The NAAPE president also noted that the absence of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities had negatively affected the operations of airlines in the country.
He, however, said he was optimistic that the Hangar in Uyo, built by the Akwa Ibom State Government, would soon start operations, as arrangement was in top gear to put it into use.
According to Balami, Nigerian engineers can now conduct A, C, and D-Checks on aircraft in the country.
While commending the government for duty-free import on aircraft spare parts, Balami called for the creation of an environment that was conducive for airlines to operate in effectively.
It will be recalled that two international airlines, United Airlines and Iberia have suspended their operations to Nigeria while some others have reduced their frequencies into the country.
