Travel News
FAAN sets zero-tolerance policy against touting at airports - PUNCH
Following Senator Osita Izunaso’s recent outburst over what he described as a “national embarrassment” caused by touting and begging at Nigerian airports, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has rolled out a comprehensive set of measures aimed at cleaning up operations and improving passenger experience across major terminals.
It rolled out these plans in a document sighted by our correspondent, titled “Position Document on Measures to Address Corrupt Practices and Enhance Passenger Experience at MMIA and GAT,” which was signed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The framework, developed after an emergency high-level meeting involving FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, and other heads of agencies working within the airport, outlines Operation Air Clean, an initiative designed to eliminate corrupt practices, enhance transparency, and improve airport operations, particularly at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the General Aviation Terminal in Lagos.
Among the measures proposed is the dissolution of joint inspection tables by security agencies, to be replaced with intelligence-driven passenger screening, individual profiling, and camera-based monitoring.
The document also states that the Department of State Services and Immigration Service will now share counters to ease passenger flow, while Customs officers will relocate to Aviation Security screening points for money declaration purposes.
FAAN plans to introduce greater transparency in passenger search procedures. Secondary screenings for arriving passengers will now be conducted in designated profiling rooms at Terminals 1 and 2, with real-time information screens displaying the names, agencies, and contact details of officers on duty. FAAN says this measure will “ensure transparency and accountability.”
Agency roles are also being redefined. NDLEA personnel will partner with AVSEC at screening points and conduct roving checks, while DSS personnel will maintain surveillance around departure and screening areas.
The document read in part, “NDLEA personnel will partner with AVSEC at screening points and conduct roving checks in the arrival hall. DSS officers will roam around the departure and screening areas. DSS and Immigration Service personnel will now share counters to reduce checkpoints for outbound passengers, enhancing travel flow.
“Customs will relocate to the AVSEC screening point for money declaration. On arriving, secondary screening will be done in a profiling room. The rooms will be situated at Terminal 1 and 2. Real-time screens will display the names, agencies, and contact details of officers on duty to ensure transparency.”
To strengthen enforcement, FAAN announced the immediate activation of a mobile court to handle cases of touting and related offenses. A designated meet-and-greet area will provide secure waiting spaces for visitors receiving passengers, reducing congestion around terminals.
“The immediate activation of a mobile court will expedite the prosecution of offenders, especially touts. The RGM will designate a secure, convenient space for visitors awaiting arriving passengers.
“Immediate prosecution of any BDC or car-hire staff found loitering or engaging in unauthorised activities. Also, the immediate prosecution of any BDC or car-hire staff found outside designated areas. Defaulting businesses will also face shutdowns and withdrawal of rights to operate in terminals,” the document stated.
In line with a ‘zero tolerance for misconduct’ policy, the authority vowed to prosecute any Bureau De Change or car-hire operators found loitering or operating outside approved zones. “Businesses found defaulting risk shutdowns and withdrawal of rights to operate in terminals.”
At the General Aviation Terminal, FAAN will introduce a timed parking system for short- and long-term users, limit the number of car-hire vehicles in the parking lot, and intensify efforts to eradicate touting and passenger harassment.
Endorsing the new policy, Minister Festus Keyamo reaffirmed the government’s determination to reform airport management nationwide.
Multiple sources in the ministry also hinted to The PUNCH that FAAN management will send an additional letter to the office of the National Security Adviser, appealing for urgent implementation of the new policies.
With Operation Air Clean, FAAN aims to create a safer, more efficient, and transparent airport environment for both passengers and airport stakeholders, signaling a decisive move toward professionalising Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Travel chaos as flight cancellations and delays worsen amid shutdown
Thousands of flights have been cancelled across US airports, with disruption expected to worsen this week as the federal government shutdown continues.
Airlines scrapped over 1,500 flights on Saturday and more than 2,900 on Sunday.
This followed an FAA order to reduce traffic, as air traffic controllers, unpaid for nearly a month, stopped reporting for duty.
By early Monday, nearly 1,600 flights for the day and almost 1,000 for Tuesday had also been cancelled.
The Senate took a first step toward ending the shutdown Sunday, but final passage could still be several days away and experts have said it will take time for flights to go back to normal even after the government reopens.
Many airports are facing significant delays for flights that haven’t been canceled as well, with airports in Newark, Orlando, Chicago and Detroit all facing departure delays of more than an hour and increasing, according to FlightAware.
This is the second pay period that air traffic controllers have not received any pay for their work. The head of the air traffic controllers union, Nick Daniels, will hold a press conference Monday morning to address the impact the shutdown is having on them.
The delays and cancellations are likely to get worse as airlines are increasingly unable to reposition planes, pilots and flight attendants due to the air traffic controller shortage.
The FAA implemented a 4 per cent mandatory reduction in flights this weekend to manage staffing. That will increase to 6 per cent on Tuesday and 10 per cent reduction by this upcoming weekend. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on “Fox News Sunday” that additional flight cuts of up to 20 per cent might be needed.
“More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day, the further they go without a paycheck,” Duffy said.
The government has been short of air traffic controllers for years, and multiple presidential administrations have tried to persuade retirement-age controllers to remain on the job. Duffy said the shutdown has exacerbated the problem, leading some air traffic controllers to speed up their retirements.
While 4 per cent may sound modest, much of that reduction is happening at 40 of the nation’s busiest and most congested airports. The FAA says the flight reduction is necessary to keep travelers safe as many of the remaining controllers have been putting in long hours and mandatory overtime while the government remains unfunded.
If not addressed soon, the situation could get even worse as the U.S. heads into the busy holiday travel season. Duffy said that air travel may “be reduced to a trickle” by the week of Thanksgiving.
China introduces own version of the H-1B visa as US tightens borders - THE INDEPENDENT
China has launched a new K-visa programme aimed at attracting science and technology workers, a move that could open doors for skilled IT experts.
The initiative, rolled out in November, forms part of Beijing's broader strategy to compete with the US for global talent and advanced technology.
It comes as uncertainties surround the US H-1B programme under tightened immigration policies implemented by President Donald Trump.
Indian national Vaishnavi Srinivasagopalan, who has worked in both India and the US, is actively seeking opportunities in China and views the K-visa as a significant prospect.
“(The) K-visa for China (is) an equivalent to the H-1B for the U.S.,” she said.
“It is a good option for people like me to work abroad.”
Ms Srinivasagopalan’s interest in China's working environment and culture was sparked after her father spent several years at a Chinese university.
The K-visa complements China's existing visa schemes for foreign professionals, such as the R-visa, but introduces more flexible requirements. Crucially, applicants are not obliged to secure a job offer before applying, streamlining the process for international talent.
This strategic move by China comes amidst stricter US policies towards foreign students and scholars under Mr Trump. These measures include a substantial increase in H-1B visa fees for new skilled worker applicants, now reaching $100,000, prompting many non-American professionals and students to consider opportunities elsewhere.
“Students studying in the US hoped for an (H-1B) visa, but currently this is an issue,” said Bikash Kali Das, an Indian masters student of international relations at Sichuan University in China.
China wants more foreign IT workers
China is striking while the iron is hot.
The ruling Communist Party has made global leadership in advanced technologies a top priority, paying massive government subsidies to support research and development of areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and robotics.
“Beijing perceives the tightening of immigration policies in the U.S. as an opportunity to position itself globally as welcoming foreign talent and investment more broadly,” said Barbara Kelemen, associate director and head of Asia at security intelligence firm Dragonfly.
Unemployment among Chinese graduates remains high, and competition is intense for jobs in scientific and technical fields. But there is a skills gap China's leadership is eager to fill. For decades, China has been losing top talent to developed countries as many stayed and worked in the U.S. and Europe after they finished studies there.
The brain drain has not fully reversed.
Many Chinese parents still see Western education as advanced and are eager to send their children abroad, said Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore.
Still, in recent years, a growing number of professionals including AI experts, scientists and engineers have moved to China from the U.S., including Chinese-Americans. Fei Su, a chip architect at Intel, and Ming Zhou, a leading engineer at U.S.-based software firm Altair, were among those who have taken teaching jobs in China this year.
Many skilled workers in India and Southeast Asia have already expressed interest about the K-visa, said Edward Hu, a Shanghai-based immigration director at the consultancy Newland Chase.
Questions about extra competition from foreign workers
With the unemployment rate for Chinese aged 16-24 excluding students at nearly 18 per cent, the campaign to attract more foreign professionals is raising questions.
“The current job market is already under fierce competition,” said Zhou Xinying, a 24-year-old postgraduate student in behavioural science at eastern China's Zhejiang University.
While foreign professionals could help “bring about new technologies” and different international perspectives, “some Chinese young job seekers may feel pressure due to the introduction of the K-visa policy”.
Kyle Huang, a 26-year-old software engineer based in the southern city of Guangzhou, said his peers in the science and technology fields fear the new visa scheme “might threaten local job opportunities”.
A recent commentary published by a state-backed news outlet, the Shanghai Observer, downplayed such concerns, saying that bringing in such foreign professionals will benefit the economy. As China advances in areas such as AI and cutting-edge semiconductors, there is a “gap and mismatch” between qualified jobseekers and the demand for skilled workers, it said.
“The more complex the global environment, the more China will open its arms,” it said.
“Beijing will need to emphasise how select foreign talent can create, not take, local jobs,” said Michael Feller, chief strategist at consultancy Geopolitical Strategy. “But even Washington has shown that this is politically a hard argument to make, despite decades of evidence.”
China has disadvantages, even with the new visa
Recruitment and immigration specialists say foreign workers face various hurdles in China. One is the language barrier. The ruling Communist Party's internet censorship, known as the “Great Firewall”, is another drawback.
A country of about 1.4 billion, China had only an estimated 711,000 foreign workers residing in the country as of 2023.
The US still leads in research and has the advantage of using English widely. There is also still a relatively clearer pathway to residency for many, said David Stepat, country director for Singapore at the consultancy Dezan Shira & Associates.
Nikhil Swaminathan, an Indian H1-B visa holder working for a US non-profit organisation after finishing graduate school there, is interested in China’s K-visa but skeptical. “I would’ve considered it. China’s a great place to work in tech, if not for the difficult relationship between India and China,” he said.
Given a choice, many jobseekers still are likely to aim for jobs in leading global companies outside China.
“The US is probably more at risk of losing would-be H-1B applicants to other Western economies, including the UK and European Union, than to China,” said Mr Feller.
"The US may be sabotaging itself, but it’s doing so from a far more competitive position in terms of its attractiveness to talent,” he said.
“China will need to do far more than offer convenient visa pathways to attract the best.”
Emirates, SAA deepen codeshare agreement for festive rush - PUNCH
Emirates Airlines and South African Airways have strengthened their nearly 30-year partnership with plans for a fully reciprocal codeshare agreement ahead of the festive travel rush.
The move, according to the airlines, is designed to expand connectivity for passengers and boost traffic across both airlines’ networks.
This was made known in a statement made available to The PUNCH by South African Airways.
A codeshare agreement allows airlines to carry passengers for another airline under a business agreement.
When codeshares are exploited, it helps passengers get to their destinations on one single ticket, making connecting hassle-free for them.
The statement showed that under the enhanced arrangement, Emirates passengers will be able to book single-ticket itineraries with seamless baggage transfer from Johannesburg to three domestic destinations such as Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha, as well as 13 additional points across Africa, including “Abidjan, Accra, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Windhoek, Lagos, Lusaka, Harare, Lubumbashi, Victoria Falls and Mauritius.”
The statement noted that “the new agreement, signed during the 2025 Dubai Airshow, will also allow Emirates to tap deeper into feeder traffic from South Africa and the region, while strengthening long-haul flows from markets such as the UK and the US. It expands on an existing partnership through which SAA customers already access Emirates’ growing Dubai schedule, which is soon to reach 56 weekly flights and 68 onwards global destinations on an interline basis.
According to both carriers, more than 45,000 travellers have used the partnership since January.
The deal was formalised by Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, and SAA’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Prof. John Lamola.
Kazim said the collaboration has been central to Emirates’ Africa strategy since 1997. “Our collaboration has created reliable connectivity for passengers to explore more of the globe with simplified, seamless travel. South Africa remains a cornerstone of our African network and one of the most consistently busy routes we serve.”
He added that both airlines will continue working to unlock benefits for their mutual customers.
Meanwhile, Lamola described the agreement as a milestone in the carriers’ 28-year partnership.
He said, “It reflects South African Airways’ commitment to delivering seamless connectivity for our customers and strengthening South Africa’s position as a key aviation hub.
“By expanding our collaboration, we are unlocking greater travel and trade opportunities across Africa and globally, ensuring that our passengers benefit from world-class service and convenience.”
Beyond the codeshare, the memorandum of understanding also outlines plans for deeper cooperation in loyalty programmes, cargo operations, and schedule coordination.
In a related development, Emirates confirmed it will introduce a third daily flight between Dubai and Cape Town starting 1 July 2026.
The airline said the new expansion will be operated with a Boeing 777, and the additional frequency will add more than 600 seats per day to South Africa’s top tourist destination.
The airline noted that demand on the Cape Town route has remained robust, with consistently high seat factors across its existing double-daily schedule. Inbound traffic from Gulf Cooperation Council countries continues to rise, while outbound demand remains strong for Europe and the US East Coast.
Nigeria steps up search for 25 abducted schoolgirls in northwestern Kebbi region - PUNCH
Summary
- 'We must find these children,' army chief says
- Trump pressures Nigeria over Christian persecution
- Two girls have escaped abductors, parents say
- Kidnapping echoes 2014 Chibok incident
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Nigerian security forces on Tuesday intensified a search for 25 girls abducted by gunmen from a boarding school in northwestern Kebbi, the latest school abduction as widespread insecurity continues to plague the country.
Parents who gathered at the school said two girls had managed to escape their abductors on Monday evening.
Police said men armed with rifles stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in the town of Maga around 4 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) on Monday, arriving on motorcycles in an apparently well-planned attack.
Gunmen attack church in Nigeria, killing two and kidnapping others - REUTERS
Summary
- Nicki Minaj calls for global action on religious freedom
- Attack adds pressure on Nigerian government amid US scrutiny
- Kwara governor requests more security after church attack
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Nov 19 - Gunmen have attacked a church in Nigeria, killing at least two people and kidnapping the pastor and some worshippers, police and witnesses said on Wednesday, days after 25 girls were abducted from a boarding school.
The attack on Tuesday evening in Eruku, a town in central Nigeria's Kwara state, puts more pressure on the government, which is under scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump who has threatened military action over what he says is persecution of Christians.
President Bola Tinubu postponed a planned trip to South Africa and Angola for G20 and AU-EU summits to receive security briefings on the two attacks, and ordered more security to hunt down the assailants in Kwara, his office said.
The president also directed the security agencies "to do everything possible" to rescue the schoolgirls, "abducted by the bandits and bring the girls back home safe", his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said.
NCAA fines Qatar Airways over passengers’ rights breaches - DAILY TRUST
By Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a N5 million fine on Qatar Airways over what it described as consumer-protection–related infractions.
The sanction was announced by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA in a statement.
He stated that the penalty followed verified breaches of the authority’s consumer-protection regulations.
Daily Trust reports that while details of the specific infractions were not immediately provided, there have been complaints against the foreign airline over the shabby treatment meted to Nigerian passengers.
Apart from Qatar Airways, other foreign and domestic airlines have been fined by the regulatory authority.
They included Air Peace, Arik, Aero Contractors, Ethiopian Airways,Royal Air Maroc and Kenya Airways.
Achimugu in the statement posted on X stated that Qatar Airways had failed to meet key obligations owed to passengers under Nigerian aviation laws.
Achimugu further revealed that the authority has issued Letters of Investigation (LOIs) to the airline regarding other pending cases.
These investigations, he said, could lead to more stringent sanctions if Qatar Airways does not provide satisfactory responses or corrective actions.
“As always, the NCAA is committed to protecting the rights of all stakeholders,” Achimugu stated, reiterating the agency’s resolve to ensure airlines operating in Nigeria uphold the highest standards of service, transparency, and accountability.
Daily Trust reports that the regulatory authority has recently intensified enforcement activities across the sector, insisting that airlines both domestic and international must adhere strictly to consumer-protection protocols especially regarding flight delays and cancellations in line with Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.
Qatar Airways has not yet publicly responded to the sanction. An email sent to the communications and media relations of the airline was replied with a promise to get back “as soon as possible.”
It would be recalled that Achimugu had earlier called out the airline, saying it had carried on as though “Nigerian passengers and the NCAA are not deserving of their respect, dignified treatment, and compliance with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.”
“This will be brought to a stop immediately,” Achimugu had said.
He added, “A member of this airline’s cabin crew claimed that, while she was wheeling a passenger during boarding for a flight from Lagos to the US via Doha, a male passenger who was travelling with his wife had touched her butt.
“She did not report this incident in Lagos. On arrival in Doha, she made an allegation against this passenger, leading to his arrest and detention for about eighteen hours. During the period, his wife suffered mental, physical, and psychological trauma without any form of care. She wondered how her husband could have committed such a despicable infraction given that she was with him throughout the boarding process.
“The authorities in Doha made the man pay a hefty fine and forced him to sign a document written ONLY in Arabic! Desperate for freedom to proceed on his journey to the US, the passenger signed a document with contents he did not understand.”
Nigeria hit by second school abduction in less than a week - FRANCE 24
Armed men attacked a Catholic school in Nigeria's north-central Niger state and abducted an unspecified number of schoolchildren, authorities said Friday, just days after 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped in neighbouring Kebbi state.
An unknown number of pupils have been abducted from a Catholic school in central Nigeria by armed gangs, police and a government official said Friday, in the second such incident in less than a week.
The school kidnappings and an attack on a church earlier this week, where worshippers are also believed to have been abducted, come weeks after US President Donald Trump threatened military action over what he described as the targeted killings of Nigeria's Christians, a narrative rejected by the Nigerian government.
"The Niger State government has received with deep sadness the disturbing news of the kidnapping of pupils from St. Mary's School in Agwara local government area," Abubakar Usman, the state government secretary, said in a statement.
"The exact number of abducted pupils is yet to be confirmed as security agencies continue to assess the situation".
The attack comes just days after gunmen stormed a public secondary school in Kebbi state in northwestern Nigeria, abducting 25 schoolgirls early Monday morning. One escaped and 24 are still missing.
Niger state police said its tactical units and the military have been deployed to search for the pupils.
Police received a report at about 2am (0100 GMT), that "some armed bandits invaded St. Mary's Private (Catholic) Secondary School ... and abducted a yet to be ascertained number of students from the school's hostel", the force said in a statement.
It said security agencies were "combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students".
Nigerian security forces have been placed on high alert this week as the country faces an uncomfortable spotlight on its security situation.
In a separate attack on a church in western Nigeria on Tuesday, gunmen killed two people during a service that was recorded and broadcast online. Dozens of worshippers are believed to have been abducted.
Experts demand stronger punishment for flight disruptions - PUNCH
Professionals and stakeholders in the aviation industry have expressed concern after United Nigeria Airlines formally accepted public apologies from Nigerian comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, popularly known as Mr Jollof, and social media activist Martins Otse, widely called Verydarkman.
The two men were involved in a physical altercation inside one of the airline’s aircraft. The incident occurred on a flight scheduled to depart Asaba International Airport for Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
In a statement issued by the airline’s Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, United Nigeria Airlines confirmed it had acknowledged the remorse expressed by both individuals on social media platforms. The airline said both men pledged to refrain from any future actions that could jeopardise aviation safety or disrupt order on its flights or any other airline.
“We trust that this undertaking will be honoured in the interest of maintaining a safe, respectful, and orderly travel environment for all passengers,” Uloka stated. The incident, which occurred on Monday, prompted calls from aviation stakeholders for stricter penalties against passengers who disrupt flights. The clash delayed the departure of the aircraft, affecting all onboard.
The episode follows a series of similar incidents. On August 5, 2025, KWAM 1 caused disruption at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by attempting to board a ValueJet flight carrying a prohibited flask of alcohol.
On August 10, 2025, a passenger, Emmanson, was removed from an Ibom Air flight from Lagos to Uyo after refusing to turn off her phone as instructed by crew members and subsequently becoming physically aggressive toward flight attendants.
While these incidents attracted public criticism over selective enforcement, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, intervened to prevent heavy sanctions against the individuals involved.
Related News
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- NCAA asks Air Tanzania to provide accommodation, refunds for stranded passengers
- AVIC-KDN backs Nigeria Air Show with sponsorship deal
Experts, however, insisted that adequate punishment is necessary to deter repeat offenders. Aviation industry observers emphasised that forgiving celebrities without consequences could undermine the integrity of airline safety regulations.
United Nigeria Airlines commended the coordinated intervention by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Airport Security, Asaba International Airport Authority, and its own crew members, noting that the situation was professionally contained in compliance with aviation safety protocols.
Reiterating its commitment to curbing unruly passenger behaviour, Uloka stated that the airline aligns with the Airline Operators of Nigeria and regulatory authorities to maintain high safety and behavioural standards. He urged passengers to cooperate with airline staff and airport security personnel to protect the integrity of air travel.
“United Nigeria Airlines remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and dignified service to all our passengers across our networks,” Uloka said.
Industry expert Olumide Ohunayo criticised the leniency shown in recent airport incidents, questioning when authorities would draw a firm line. “When you keep giving a slap on the wrist, at what point will you draw the line? Are we still waiting for the NCAA to speak, or is an apology acceptable because it came from a celebrity? These individuals are public figures who should be setting examples, yet we continue to act as though airport safety and regulations are optional,” he said.
Retired Group Captain John Ojikuti also condemned the airline’s decision to accept apologies in lieu of law enforcement action. “Is the airline the enforcer of NCAA regulations? The NCAA has the power to investigate and hand culprits over to the police after they have been found guilty. Those who fought in the aircraft should be handed over to the police. Forgiving such behaviour should not be the duty of an airline,” Ojikuti said.
The incident highlights ongoing debates in Nigeria’s aviation sector about the enforcement of safety regulations, accountability for passengers, and the limits of corporate discretion when addressing breaches of aviation security.
Airlines face uneven fuel costs as currencies weaken — IATA - PUNCH
Jet fuel price volatility is hitting airlines unevenly across global markets as weakening local currencies deepen cost pressures, according to new insights from the International Air Transport Association.
According to a statement issued by the body, “The first chart of the week, a decade ago, showed that jet fuel price declines had uneven impacts across economies due to fluctuations in local currencies against the US dollar.”
The situation has worsened over the past four years, with jet fuel prices swinging dramatically. The report noted that “jet fuel price volatility in USD has intensified, especially since 2020, driven by the pandemic-induced demand collapse, the post-pandemic recovery amid supply chain disruptions, and escalating geopolitical tensions.”
Countries whose currencies have weakened are now paying significantly more for fuel. The statement highlighted that “The most pronounced impacts are observed in Russia and Brazil, whose currencies have depreciated the most against the dollar since 2014.” Russia’s ruble has slid following the invasion of Ukraine and subsequent international sanctions, while “the Brazilian real has also suffered recently as expectations are high that the central bank will loosen monetary policy in spite of persistent fiscal woes and the detrimental effect of tariffs on the country’s external accounts.”
Even major economies have felt the pressure. “Although less pronounced than in Russia and Brazil, the EU, China, and India have all seen their currencies weaken against the US dollar since mid-2022,” the analysis stated. However, it also pointed out that “the dollar has lost around 10 per cent of its value this year against many currencies. The countries lucky enough to find themselves in the latter group have seen their fuel bills cheapen in local currency terms.”
Jet fuel remains one of the largest cost components in aviation. As emphasised by the statement, “Fuel costs make up close to 26 per cent of total operating expenses of airlines, alternating with labour as the largest cost category.” Additionally, “Approximately 55–60 per cent of all global airline costs are denominated in USD, compared to 50–55 per cent of revenues.”
This imbalance has direct consequences for profitability. The report explained that “Based on this, a one per cent appreciation of the USD against global currencies could reduce operating margins by about 0.1 percentage points, while a one per cent depreciation could improve margins by a similar amount.”
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