Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SACHO), on Sunday, urged government to consider aviation as a pioneer industry, to enable ground handlers to leverage tax waivers and incentives on equipment and spare parts.

Managing director (MD) of SACHO, Adenike Aboderin, said this during a gateway forum by aviation correspondents in Lagos.

She also called for single-digit long-term loans for handlers, to enable them purchase and deploy global compliant equipment.

According to her, the cost of purchasing and importing ground handling equipment does not match the charges airlines pay for such services.

She noted that in the last two quarters, the firm had spent about five million euros on equipment alone, adding that each equipment amounted to about 150,000 euros.

“We need government’s support on tax waivers, incentives on both equipment and spare parts, and then single-digit long-term interest loans.

“Airlines have been included but not the ground handlers; Government needs to help the sub-sector and see aviation as a pioneer industry,” she said.

Ms Aboderin also said that SACHO achieved financial resilience and secured future growth by strategically investing in operational excellence, technological infrastructure, partnerships and staff training.

According to her, SACHO drives operational excellence by implementing new technologies, which contributed to achieving 27 per cent annual cost savings.

“Our focus is to grow our market and we are investing in market expansion. We currently serve 21 airports in Nigeria, 25 domestic and international airlines.

“We are also investing in eco-friendly sustainability plans such as: electric ground support equipment (GES); environmental management system (EMS) by implementing an ISO 14001-based system for compliance and quality management system,” she said.

She also highlighted the company’s diversification plan.

The MD added that the firm plans to launch the SACHO helicopter services for the oil and gas industry, travel, among others.

She assured that staff were properly trained and screened before deployment, adding that staff welfare is adequately prioritised.

Ms Aboderin, consequently, advocated for government’s support for small businesses in the export chain, to enable them to earn foreign exchange.

She hinted that SACHO is in collaboration with other ground handlers to ensure that any airline which has defaulted in payment with one handler will not engage another handler without first offsetting the debt of the former.

Besides, she added that the company had acquired land for five projects, including an aviation school, training centre, warehouse, hotel and hostel, which are soon to commence in Lagos.

 (NAN)