Mahogany Air Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jim Belemu has lamented that high airport charges are affecting the growth of local airline companies.

Dr. Belemu tells Money FM News in an interview that there is need for the government to support local airline companies by way of introducing incentives for certain charges.

“The difficult thing we are facing in the aviation sector more especially for us local companies is astronomical airport charges, these are heavily affecting us,” he said.

He has however acknowledged that there are huge opportunities for businesses to flourish in the aviation sector as the government has provided an enabling environment as well as improved infrastructure.

Dr. Belemu feels that some of the airport charges can be reduced such as handling charges as a way of allowing local airlines to grow.

The Mahogany Air CEO has since proposed that the government introduces incentives specifically to help local airlines to grow by waiving off some of the charges which he feels are exorbitant.