Says stabilised Naira makes dollar pricing unjustifiable; 70% of members excluded from direct trade…
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) has called on foreign airlines operating in the country to end the sale of flight tickets in U.S. dollars, insisting that with the recent stabilisation of the Naira, the practice is no longer defensible.
Speaking during a recent interview, NANTA President Yinka Folami criticised the continued dollarisation of airfares, saying it shuts out a majority of local travel agents despite their professional certification and compliance with international standards.
“Dollar sales exclude 70 per cent of our members who are NANTA-certified and International Air Transport Association (IATA)-certified from direct trade with airlines,” Folami said. “With the Naira now stable and the economy improving, it is no longer necessary for these airlines to sell in dollars.”
‘Airlines must align with economic recovery’
Folami acknowledged the government’s efforts to stabilise the foreign exchange market and reform the aviation sector, noting that the exchange rate gap has narrowed, liquidity has improved, and transparency in currency transactions has increased.
“The issue of airlines’ city sales offices is being squarely addressed by government,” he explained. “Even global bodies like the World Bank and IMF have commended Nigeria’s current economic direction. The official and parallel market rates are converging, so it’s time for airlines to key into this progress.”
He urged all aviation and travel stakeholders to align their operations with the government’s economic recovery plans, stressing that policies should directly benefit Nigerian consumers and businesses.
“It’s our collective responsibility as industry players to ensure that our actions support Nigeria’s recovery and reflect the direction of government policy,” he added.
Airline Debit Memos Becoming ‘Revenue Stream’
On the issue of Airline Debit Memos (ADMs) fees charged to travel agents for booking errors, Folami attributed many of the charges to technological inefficiencies on the part of some airlines.
“A lot of ADMs result from airlines’ technology issues,” he said. “While some carriers have improved, others haven’t. We’ve seen ADMs rise as high as $200,000 for a single business, and at that point, it’s no longer a penalty, it’s becoming a revenue stream.”
He noted that NANTA is engaging with the government and regulatory agencies to address the issue, ensuring that legitimate agents are not unfairly penalised for errors beyond their control.
Background
NANTA, which represents Nigeria’s travel and tourism agencies, has consistently advocated for policies that promote fair trade, transparency, and inclusiveness in the aviation industry. The association has also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that foreign airlines operate within the country’s financial and consumer protection frameworks.
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