COVID-19: Airlines Lament Low Patronage

Some Airlines in the country operating at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, have expressed dissatisfaction over low passengers’ patronage since reopening after the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

During separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Abuja, the airlines said the ratio of passengers at present compared with previous years had drastically reduced due to the impact of Coronavirus.

Max Air Station Manager Kehinde Ogunyale stated that the airline was only doing about 25 per cent of its usual business in the past years before the pandemic.

“It is glaring that things have never remained the same as it used to be. We are just doing about 25 per cent of our usual business in the past years before the pandemic.

“Traffic was slightly better during the festive season of Eid-el-Kabir. But, as of now, we are still experiencing low traffic flow because of the Coronavirus pandemic,’’ he said.

The station manager, however, commended the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other germane stakeholders to have come up with protocols for the period.

He said it is necessary to use face masks, hand sanitisers and observe social distancing among others to ensure that all protocols are kept.

“Our advice to the passengers is to keep to the required protocol to keep themselves safe. Whatever support we need to give from here, we will do it.

“We also want the passengers to help us by giving us required support and encouragement by staying on queues and coming early to the airport. We are sure that we will all be safe,’’ he said.

He said Max Air currently operates flights from Abuja to Lagos, Maiduguri, Kano, Yola, Sokoto and Bauchi.

Also, Azman Air Duty Manager, Mrs Sandra Oge, said that turnout of the air travelers at present was very low after the total knockdown.

She said communities are still cynical about the Coronavirus pandemic.

“I think people are still sceptical to coming out. But prior to the Salah holidays, we noticed an increase of outbound passengers, especially to the Northern routes which we quite applaud.

“After the Salah break, the percentage of outbound travellers came back to normal. This is not encouraging for now.

“The situation now is that we only experience inbound passengers from return routes we operate from. These stations are Maiduguri, Kano, Oweri, Kebbi and Lagos. But out of Abuja for now, passengers’ figure is very low,’’ she said.

She said the airline has been enjoying successful operation with no complaints so far by the passengers due to delay, cancelation or rescheduled flights.

(NAN)