Some air travellers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, have affirmed stable air fares to any route in Nigeria for more than two weeks before the Sallah celebrations.
They made this known on Monday in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to them, there was always increase in air fares few days or weeks before any festivals in the previous years.
“The development can only be as a result of recent mutual understanding and arrangement among the local airlines in the nation.
“Unlike previous years, no increment in the air fare due to the season. The airlines should please keep it up,” they said.
Mr. Akhator Odigie, the Deputy General Secretary, Africa Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation, commended the airlines for stable air fares from Abuja to any route.
According to him, ticket prices used to increase rapidly as festive periods were approaching.
Odigie said he paid N50, 000 to book on Thursday for Air Peace flight scheduled for Monday from Abuja to Lagos.
“I paid N50,000 online for the ticket four days ago for this trip from Abuja to Lagos and there was no change in price since about two weeks. Unlike previous years, fares skyrocketed when approaching festive period.
“Though if you compare the air ticket now to few months ago, there was about 100 per cent increment. The last time in February I flew Air Peace, I paid around N25,500,“ he said.
Odigie, who observed improvement in services at NAIA, however, said that the airport was experiencing increase in passengers due to apprehension by traveller on the safety of the roads.
He said that travelling by air was convenient and time saving.
“There are more passengers for obvious reasons. Roads are unsafe.
“So people consider the ransom fee, they don’t consider the air fare any more. Also the peace of mind that you and your family are having when going by air.
“A lot of persons want to fly. But for me, it is not security. It is convenience. As I speak to you, I will get to Lagos and start a road trip from Lagos to Lome,” he said.
Odigie described the new adopted method by the local airlines of co-sharing passengers as a good initiative.
He pointed out that it was not profitable for an airlines to fly half full.
According to him, chances of making it are higher if an airline has a full plane always.
He, however, encouraged the local airlines to improve on their communications with the passengers if they had challenges in their operation.
“Costumers are Kings and Queens. Treat them with the right care. This Idea of four hours to five hours delay is quite unacceptable, that is why the co-sharing thing is good.
“Even if a passenger misses a flight let him be comfortable while waiting for another flight. Kindly make it a tradition,” he said.
Mr. Miri Selzing, a staff of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), who was waiting for an Air Peace flight to Asaba, said unchanged air fares during celebration had added value to aviation sector.
Selzing said that he was comfortably booked in the morning with the N50,000 only.
He expressed optimistic that the establishing of National Carrier would create good competition among the airlines.
“We are hopeful to see Nigeria Air come up, believing there will be a drastic change in the aviation industry.
“When there is good competition, of course, the customers too will have benefits. So, if we have good competitors in the business, we believe that better benefit will also be there for the passengers,“ he said.
The Arik Air spokesperson, Mr. Banji Ola, told NAN that there was no hike in air fares in the season as the law of demand and supply came to play.
According to him, the airlines always planned ahead of every season.
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“There is nothing to compare, air fares have not changed from the level they were more than two weeks ago, “ he said.
In a related development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured all airport users that Nigerian Airports were fully ready to play host to air travellers during Sallah celebration.
This is contained in a statement signed by FAAN Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Faithful Hope-Ivbaze.
According to her, security has been beefed up at airports as part of preparations to ensure that passengers are 7⁷comfortable without being afraid, while waiting to travel during the Sallah celebrations and beyond.
“Facilities at our airports have been generally improved upon and are functioning optimally. Also, all other logistics have been upgraded and strengthened to provide for the expected increase in passenger traffic in and around our airports.
“Travellers are enjoined to look out for directional signages at the airports for guidance, as well as abide by all safety and security instructions at the Airports.
“We will also like to re-state that receiving of dignitaries at restricted areas by security agents and Airport officials is prohibited and anyone found wanting will be sanctioned,” she said.
According to her, FAAN is committed to her core values of safety, security and comfort. (NAN)
