By Saio Marrah
Members of Parliament have raised concerns over the high cost of airline tickets.
The leader of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) in Parliament, Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, in his submission on a debate regarding ratification of international treaties in the house on Tuesday 07th February 2023, spoke about the high cost of air tickets unlike neighbouring Guinea.
The lawmaker narrated how his friend talked about preferring to board a flight through Guinea instead of Sierra Leone because he was able to save up to 600 United States Dollars. He requested that something be done to lower ticket price to the level of Guinea.
Yumkella also narrated how they were asked to pay 25 dollars when traveling through the Freetown International Airport on their way out, and having to pay the same when coming into the country. Another lawmaker of governing bench, representing constituency 121 in Western Area Urban District, Abdul Muniru Lansana, who initiated the discussion over people paying extra charges, said that should have been paid by the airlines.
An Independent lawmaker, representing constituency 001 in Kailahun District, Emilia Lolloh Tongi, called on the Ministry of Transport and Aviation to ensure graduates learn different international languages so that they will be equipped working in the sector. She also noted that this will help government to recover the monies spent on students under the loan scheme.
Another Parliamentarian from the ruling party representing constituency 081 in Bo District, Joseph Lamin Williams, pointed out that there was serious discrimination against some Africans in a particular airlines which he said had been with Sierra Leone during tough times like Ebola days and even at the peak of COVID-19.
The Acting leader of the main Opposition, Hassan Abdoul Sesay, called on the transport ministry to explain the reason for the 25 dollars charged for incoming and exiting passengers at the airport.
In his response to the concerns of law makers, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha, after thanking the MPs for applauding the bills, pointed out by saying “let it be on record that government has built a brand new airport and not just a terminal.”
This he said is because it has new auxiliaries, runways, taxi-ways, among others.
On the reasons for the high cost of tickets as compared to Guinea, he said Guinea has more carriers and more passengers as compared to Sierra Leone.
He also talked about double commissioning for Sierra Leone, the shape of Sierra Leone Airport as compared to its neighbouring Guinea and the fluctuating Leones against the dollars.
However, he said with the enactment of the international treaties, problems relating to high cost of flight tickets will be reduced because Sierra Leone will soon meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) by the time they will do the test on Sierra Leone Airport.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (08/02/23)
