Business

International Airlines Set to Raise Fares As Aviation Fuel Price Rises by 70%

Published

2 years ago

November 10, 2021

Eric

The International Air Transport Association has said the price of jet fuel has continued to increase in recent weeks, with its price increasing by 70 per cent since the start of 2021.

According to IATA, the Switzerland-based trade organisation representing over 290 international airlines, the increase in Jet A1 price is putting pressure on airlines’ operating costs and threatening the industry’s profitability.

IATA said jet fuel price continued to trend upwards in recent weeks as economic activity restarted around the world and supply remained tight.

The association disclosed this in its ‘Airlines Financial Monitor’ which was released on Tuesday.

It added that as of early November, jet fuel price was 70 per cent higher compared to the start of the year.

The association said, “Monthly jet fuel price and Brent crude oil price continued to climb higher in recent weeks, and are currently well above pre-crisis 2019 levels.

“At the beginning of November, the price per barrel of jet fuel was at US$96.1, +70% year-to-date. The price increase has been driven by swiftly recovering demand as markets reopen around the world and economic activity restarts. Meanwhile, supply has remained tight since an increase in OPEC+ production has been slow.

“Many airlines have been voicing concerns about the impact of rising fuel costs — airlines’ largest operating cost item — on their financial recovery. Q4 tends to be a seasonally weaker quarter for airlines passenger revenues so the fuel price increase represents an unwelcomed challenge.”

IATA added that airline stocks dropped across all regions in October because of rising jet fuel prices on airlines’ operating costs.

According to IATA, the global airline share price index has been below pre-pandemic levels throughout most of 2021, with uncertainty about pandemic outbreaks and their impact on the air travel recovery.

The IATA said, “The initial Q3 2021 results show that financial losses of airlines at the aggregated level diminished compared with Q2 2021, with some carriers reporting their first profitable quarter since the crisis started. In the sample of 27 airlines, the industry-wide EBIT margin improved to -2 per cent of revenues in Q3.”

According to the IATA, passenger revenues have declined by 34 per cent in Q3 2021 compared with the pre-crisis Q3 2019, while cargo revenues have risen by 65 per cent over the same period amidst increased cargo demand.

It added that total airline revenues were down by 30 per cent and the rising fuel price was increasing pressure on fuel costs.

The Punch

Business

Naira Slumps to N1,399/$1 in Official Window, N1,430/$1 in Parallel Market

Published

5 days ago

April 27, 2024

Eric

The Naira continued its slump against the American dollar for the seventh consecutive day on Friday, in both the official and parallel windows.

The domestic currency traded at N1,399.23/$1 and N1,430/$1 respectively.

This is according to data sourced from the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) window.

At the end of trading on Friday, the Naira lost N89.35 against the dollar when compared to the previous exchange rate of N1,309.88/$1 on Thursday, April 26, 2024.

The intra-day high and low recorded during the day were N1,410/$1 and N1,05/$1 respectively, representing a wide spread of N359/$1.

Similarly, the Naira slumped against the dollar at the parallel section of the market for the seventh consecutive day to trade at N1,430/$1 representing a loss of N10 when compared to the N1,420/$1 it traded the previous day.

However, the Naira gained against the pound. The domestic currency appreciated by N50 against the British Pound to trade at N1,650/£1 as against the previous trading price of N1,700/£1 representing a gain of N50 for the local currency,

The Canadian dollar however closed flat against the Naira to trade at N1,000/CA$1 same as the previous trading day rate.

The Euro also slumped against the Naira to trade at N1,450/€1 as against the rate of N1,500/€1 the previous trading rate indicating a gain of N50 for the Nigerian currency.

Business

Bureau De Change Operators Seek Unified FX Retail Market

Published

5 days ago

April 27, 2024

Eric

The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has announced plans to create a unified structure for the retail end of the country’s foreign exchange market.

The association disclosed on Friday that the move would tackle volatility and boost regulatory compliance within that segment of the market.

This move, according to the ABCON President Aminu Gwadabe, is aimed at tackling currency volatility and strengthening regulatory compliance within the sector.

Gwadabe outlined ABCON’s strategy, which involves unifying operators across various categories within the market. The association is establishing state chapters to achieve better market coordination, integration, and ultimately, a single, standardized market structure. This would, in theory, allow authorities to monitor all BDC operators throughout Nigeria more effectively.

He said: “Part of our vision for a united retail-end forex market includes activating geo-mapping and automated BDCs physical office verification exercise using the Remote Gravity Physical verification apps. This will enable forex buyers to easily locate BDCs offices for effective and seamless transactions.”

He reiterated the benefits of a vibrant retail end of the forex market to support the Central Bank of Nigeria’s goal of achieving true price discovery for the Naira, balancing international obligations and national objectives; ensuring ease of regulation, security agencies monitoring and supervision as well as entrenching market visibility for BDC players.

With the world going digital, BDC operators under the ABCON leadership are committed to staying ahead of the competition by deploying time-tested technology to deliver effective services to foreign exchange end-users.

“Finally, we also condemned in its entity, the seeming reappearance of illegal economic behaviours in forex conversion and peer-to-peer trading that pose another recent surprise in naira volatility and I therefore want to warn that while surprises are the new normal, resilience is also the new skills,” Gwadebe explained.

The benefits of a unified market are multifaceted, according to Gwadabe. It would not only address exchange rate fluctuations but also bolster regulatory compliance among BDCs.

This could have a positive impact on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) efforts to achieve transparency in foreign exchange pricing. Additionally, a unified structure could enhance the overall image of BDCs and other stakeholders in the market, potentially leading to increased employment opportunities.

Business

FirstBank Appoints New MD/CEO, Alebiosu

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Eric

First Bank of Nigeria has appointed Olusegun Alebiosu as its new Managing Director with effect from April 2024.

The Bank stated this in a release signed by its acting company secretary Adewale Arogundade.

Alebiosu takes from Adesola Adeduntan, who resigned abruptly on Saturday with eight months left to complete his tenure in December 2024.

The release stated that “following the resignation of the managing director/CEO of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the Board of Directors has appointed Olusegun Alebiosu as the acting CEO of the 130-year-old institution.

“The appointment takes effect immediately and is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The release stated that Alebiosu was until this appointment the executive director, chief risk officer and executive compliance officer since January 2022. Prior to that, he was the Group executive/ chief risk officer, a position he held since 2016.

“Alebiosu brings to the executive management of FirstBank over 28 years’ experience in the banking and financial services industry with cross-functional exposure to Credit risk management, Financial planning and control, Credit and marketing, Trade, Corporate and commercial banking, Agriculture financing, Oil and Gas, Transportation (including Aviation and Shipping) and Project financing.”

It added that the new acting MD/CEO commenced his professional career in 1991 with Oceanic Bank Plc (now EcoBank) and prior to joining FirstBank in 2016 served as Chief Risk Officer at Coronation Merchant Bank Limited, Chief Credit Risk Officer at African Development Bank Group and Group Head, Credit Policy & Deputy Chief Credit Risk Officer at United Bank for Africa Plc.

“He is an alumnus of Harvard School of Government and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management. He also obtained a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

“He is a member of various professional bodies namely, Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA), Associate, Nigeria Institute of Management (ANIM), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and Member, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs.”