The suspension of some airlines is gradually taking its toll on passengers as they now complain that existing airlines leave them with no choice.
Consequent upon the suspension of Dana, IRS, Chanchangi and skeletal services run by some of the existing airlines, those running full operations seem to have cashed in on the situation to offer passengers less or no choice in terms of satisfactory services.
Some passengers who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday at the International Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, called on relevant aviation authorities to, as a matter of urgency, save the sector by fast-tracking policies or procedures that will encourage more domestic carriers into the industry.
A passenger who identified himself as Mr. Bala Abdullah said: “Government should allow other people (airlines) to come in. I heard on network news that Emirate now flies Abuja and Kano. It is like the international airlines are coming in more than the domestic ones.”
Meanwhile on fares charged by operating airlines Mrs. Bunmi Olubolade said: “Passengers have no option because by the time you are complaining about the fare some other person will pay. I know a colleague who bought ticket to Lagos for N30, 000. He bought same the previous week N25, 500. There are different airlines here so every airline decides the way it wants to run it fares based on the number of aircraft it has at a particular time.”
Another respondent, Mohammed Mailafia said, “The reason this is happening is because of the suspension of some airlines. If they settle all their differences with government and government allows them to operate, maybe the fare will come down. I fly Chanchangi, I think the condition was that any operator who wants to start must begin with a minimum of two aircraft, Chanchangi has one.”
A check at the number of domestic airlines at the airport indicates that only Aero, Arik, and Medview are presently running full scheduled operations with others running skeletal or fewer routes.
Daniel Adugbo 