Nigerian economic slowdown causes dip in airlines’ passenger traffic
The slowdown in economic activities and
the low purchasing power have forced a dip in the number of passengers
on Nigerian airlines’ domestic routes.
the low purchasing power have forced a dip in the number of passengers
on Nigerian airlines’ domestic routes.
The passenger traffic dropped 30 per cent in the first half of 2018, when compared to the same period of 2017.
Records on passenger movement released by
the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed.
the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed.
According to the record, in the first six
months of 2017, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), the
busiest airport in the country, recorded 2,644,034 passengers on
domestic flights.
months of 2017, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), the
busiest airport in the country, recorded 2,644,034 passengers on
domestic flights.
But in the same period in 2018, the airport recorded 1,803,317 passengers.
Also, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja, FAAN recorded 1,907,682 in the first six months of
2017, higher than the 1,702,020 the agency report in same period in
2018.
Airport, Abuja, FAAN recorded 1,907,682 in the first six months of
2017, higher than the 1,702,020 the agency report in same period in
2018.
The airports that operated only domestic
service recorded low passenger movement in the first half of 2018 when
compared to the same period in 2017.
service recorded low passenger movement in the first half of 2018 when
compared to the same period in 2017.
The Executive Chairman of Airline
Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mr. Nogie Meggison, said in spite of
Nigeria’s exit from economic recession in 2017, income level of
households was yet to improve because of the fragile economic growth.
Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mr. Nogie Meggison, said in spite of
Nigeria’s exit from economic recession in 2017, income level of
households was yet to improve because of the fragile economic growth.
According to Meggison, air travel is one
of the barometers to gauge the health of a nation, saying whenever a
country is doing well, it will reflect on the number of people that
travel by air.
of the barometers to gauge the health of a nation, saying whenever a
country is doing well, it will reflect on the number of people that
travel by air.
“As I always say, Nigerian aviation is
not a stand-alone. It is part of the bigger economy of Nigeria and
contributing to the GDP. It is obvious that aviation is the quickest
barometer to check any economy.
not a stand-alone. It is part of the bigger economy of Nigeria and
contributing to the GDP. It is obvious that aviation is the quickest
barometer to check any economy.
“And if you check the Nigerian travelling
populace, 70 to 80 per cent of those travelling are business people, as
compared to the outside world where only 40 per cent are business
people, 30 per cent tourists and the other 30
per cent are students and others.
populace, 70 to 80 per cent of those travelling are business people, as
compared to the outside world where only 40 per cent are business
people, 30 per cent tourists and the other 30
per cent are students and others.
“In Nigeria if you check the flights
going to Abuja, 80 to 85 per cent are on business purpose and once these
people don’t have business to do, it is obvious that there won’t be any
movement because if you are not going to do
business, no travelling. So it is a clear quick indication and
barometer for the economy.
going to Abuja, 80 to 85 per cent are on business purpose and once these
people don’t have business to do, it is obvious that there won’t be any
movement because if you are not going to do
business, no travelling. So it is a clear quick indication and
barometer for the economy.
“So, if the economy is not performing as expected and businessmen are not moving, the airlines will not find the passengers.
“Once the economy begins to jump,
business starts to move; then you see movement in our airports. Where 80
to 85 per cent of the passengers are doing business, most of them are
not seeing any business to do now. I guess what is
happening in Abuja right now is more politics than business. So it is
the politicians that are moving,” he said.
business starts to move; then you see movement in our airports. Where 80
to 85 per cent of the passengers are doing business, most of them are
not seeing any business to do now. I guess what is
happening in Abuja right now is more politics than business. So it is
the politicians that are moving,” he said.
Meggison stressed the need for Nigeria to take advantage of its demography to grow its aviation sector.
“We can make Nigeria the hub and to make
us the hub, we need to improve on our infrastructure. As we improve on
our infrastructure, other people will transit through Nigeria. And when
this is done, we will jump-start the aviation
sector,” he said.
us the hub, we need to improve on our infrastructure. As we improve on
our infrastructure, other people will transit through Nigeria. And when
this is done, we will jump-start the aviation
sector,” he said.
The spokesman of the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA), Sam Adurogboye, said the low passenger
traffic was a reflection of the prevailing economic situation.
Aviation Authority (NCAA), Sam Adurogboye, said the low passenger
traffic was a reflection of the prevailing economic situation.
He noted that the aviation industry could not be insulated from the rest of the economic mix.
“Air travel and the aviation sector
respond to the prevailing economic situation; just like it affects other
sectors. In air travel, there is low season and there is also high
season. Even on international flights, there are times
seats are fully booked and there are also times of flying empty seats.
But safety remains our number priority. We don’t toy with it.
respond to the prevailing economic situation; just like it affects other
sectors. In air travel, there is low season and there is also high
season. Even on international flights, there are times
seats are fully booked and there are also times of flying empty seats.
But safety remains our number priority. We don’t toy with it.
“Nigeria is not an exception of the low
passenger traffic. To have improved load factors depends on some other
variables such as flying modern equipment, good customer care,
competitive fare regime, laudable safety and security
records. If an airline now chooses to toy with safety, it will have the
regulator to contend with. If it escapes the eagle-eyed regulator, one
day, accident will catch up with him. God forbid,” Adurogboye said.
passenger traffic. To have improved load factors depends on some other
variables such as flying modern equipment, good customer care,
competitive fare regime, laudable safety and security
records. If an airline now chooses to toy with safety, it will have the
regulator to contend with. If it escapes the eagle-eyed regulator, one
day, accident will catch up with him. God forbid,” Adurogboye said.
The total number of operating aircraft in the domestic routes has shrunk to about 36 from about 58 last year.
It was gathered that some airplanes have
gone on checks overseas; some are not airworthy – Aircraft on Ground
(AOG) in the industry.
gone on checks overseas; some are not airworthy – Aircraft on Ground
(AOG) in the industry.
Investigation also revealed that some airlines that operated in 2017 have temporarily stopped flight service.
The insufficient supply of aircraft has
also exacerbated flight delays as one aircraft is scheduled to operate
many flights in a day.
also exacerbated flight delays as one aircraft is scheduled to operate
many flights in a day.
