Finchglow Honours Media, Pushes for Aviation Reforms - By Daisy BARRO

In a gesture of gratitude, Finchglow Holdings has honoured the media's pivotal role in showcasing its accomplishments at a Media Appreciation Ceremony on December 11, 2025, in Ikeja, Lagos, convening aviation journalists to commend their astute and pertinent industry reporting.

In his keynote address, Finchglow's Group Managing Director (MD) Mr. Bankole Bernard lauded the media for being worthy partners to the company's success, seen in its dedicated coverage of milestones that have shaped the company's trajectory in the year 2025. He went on to commend the aviation minister's efforts in addressing sector challenges, noting, "The Minister, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has done well in keeping the sector active - blocked funds are no longer an issue; foreign exchange has been deregulated and it's now floating, based on demand and supply", he said.

Despite economic hardships, Bernard highlighted the company's growth, which he attributed to sustained air travel demand: "Despite the economic hardship, people still fly. More passengers means more money for the parastatals as well" - but wondered why Nigerian airports still lack pertinent infrastructure upgrades like a centralized passenger database, to enhance travel experiences: "Why can't we equally have free Wi-Fi at our federal airports? These are some of the things we need to push for the government to do in order for passengers to get a better travel experience," he urged.

The MD also called for tax reductions on air tickets to lower fares: "Our appeal is for the government to also reduce the taxes levied on the passengers via the airlines. Because if this happens, air ticket fares will go down as well", he said.

On cargo operations, Bernard, newly appointed Chairman of Cargo Accounts Settlement Systems (CASS), Nigeria Local Consultative Council (LCC), announced reforms: "There is a lot that is going to change in the aviation cargo sector in 2026. With the introduction of CASS, airlines will deal directly with accredited cargo agents. We have partnered with IATA to put in place a system that will clean up the sector. It's not going to happen overnight, but eventually, we'll clean up the system", he affirmed.

Lagos Aviation Academy's Chief Cabin Crew Instructor, Hakeem Lawal, reported robust student intake: "We have been able to take in over 1000 students, and we intend to do greater things next year." Bernard echoed the academy's social impact: "Our school is helping to take young people off the streets. It's all about impact - reason why we also have plans of expanding the number of courses we offer", he divulged.

The event underscored Finchglow's commitment to collaborative growth in Nigeria's aviation sector. As reforms like CASS and infrastructure upgrades take shape, stakeholders anticipate enhanced operational efficiency, improved passenger experiences, and sustained industry resilience despite economic challenges.

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