The most challenging period for domestic airline operators in recent times was early this year when fuel scarcity nearly grounded air transportation and threatened socio-economic activities of the country.
But with the improved fuel supply situation, flight cancellations and delays were minimised. However, stakeholders in the aviation industry have continued to express fears that the fuel shortage may resurface in the near future, given that, no concrete measures have been put in place by relevant authorities to bring permanent solution to the perennial fuel crises in Nigeria.
It was cheering to hear the good news that the refineries would resume operation after their repairs; which means that most of the fuel products would be sourced locally.
Industry operators however said the recent scarcity of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1 was inexplicable because the product is deregulated so when marketers stopped importation of petrol and diesel due to the debt owed them by the federal government, it should not have affected aviation fuel supply. They argued that the aviation fuel was made scarce to further blackmail government and expose the citizenry to undue suffering.
Since normalcy returned, passengers have noticed that flight operations have normalised as there has been improved on-time departure. Many flights now leave at the advertised time and delays and cancelation have become minimal, except in cases where there were technical problems or a condition that is beyond the control of the airline.
THISDAY investigations showed that every airline has improved in its on-time departure, except when there is inhibition by weather, like on Tuesday when Dana Air flight to Uyo was delayed due to heavy downpour in the Akwa Ibom capital. Also, penultimate, Air Peace flight from Owerri to Lagos was delayed for more than eight hours, as a result of technical hitches. Although, officials of the airline declined to explain to the waiting passengers, the actual reason for the long delay, sources close to the ailing disclosed to THISDAY that the flight had a burst tire in Abuja and it required some time to fix it and satisfy it air worthy.
Industry operators who spoke to THISDAY on the improved services, attributed it to competition among the airlines; adding that every airline is now striving to record more successful service and hold on to its passengers because of the stiff competition in most lucrative routes. Besides, the number of commercial airlines seems to be compatible with the market so each airline can easily lose its market to another, especially on the Abuja-Lagos and Port Harcourt-Lagos routes. It is also applicable to the Abuja-Port Harcourt and Owerri routes, which are some of the most viable routes.
A consumer protection official of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) stationed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja also pointed that out even the officials of one of the major airlines has also become more committed and friendly. He said, in the past, they used to be snobbish and unruly to passengers, but now “they even apologise to passengers if there is delay and even serve refreshments when the delay lasts up to two hours.”
A protocol officer at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Domestic Terminal (MMA2), Bassey Orok told THISDAY that there are no more flight cancelations and delays are now minimal and if there is going to be change in time of departure, the airlines now inform passengers through SMS 48 to 72 hours before the day of the flight.
“There has been improved service among all the airlines. Today, all Aero flights left on time and the other airlines are doing very well in terms of on-time departure and they notify passengers two to three days if there is going to be a shift in departure time. Weather has improved, except when there is heavy rain or announced bad whether which they relay to passengers,” he said.
Orok said the airlines are trying to be as professionals as possible in order to win the loyalty of passengers and that Consumer Protection Directorate of NCAA is also monitoring their activities and no one wants to have bad records this time.
The competition has also tamed fares in addition to the fact that there could be equilibrium between airline’s capacity and air travellers in the domestic routes. Some airlines want to keep their passengers thus their decision to lower their air fares, a development, which has forced other that charge outrageous fares to either bring theirs down or lose their market to other airlines.
This is because passengers no more make hard choices between airlines as regular travellers have realised that safety standard among airlines has significantly improved due to self-regulation and thorough scrutiny by NCAA, which has instituted ramp inspection of aircraft before departure. So many passengers that do not have traditional favourite airlines could choose any one that its flight time suitable. This was made possible by the fact that so far Nigeria has maintained no accident or major incident record since after the 2013 crash.
Senior official of Arik Air said since the past three months, “our on-time performance has been excellent both on local and international routes and there have been improved confidence in our passengers. Passengers confidence is back.”
The official attributed the improvement to the fact that fuel supply has stabilised and there is improvement in weather and that the airline has also made flight adjustment on some routes for improved service.
But criticism has trailed low fares introduced by some airlines; although passengers like it and it has enhanced the patronage of such airlines, an operator warned that low fares could affect safety standard of an airline because it may not have the resources to carry out major maintenance in its aircraft engines, which in the long run would affect safety.
“Passengers like fares to be as low as possible but it may not enable you to repair your engines. I know about one airline that has many of its aircraft down because there is no money to repair their engines. So NCAA should find out and enforce a limit to reduction of fares beyond economic reality. Complete overhaul of Boeing 737 engine costs $5.2 million. Where will you get the money to pay for these repairs with such unrealistic low fares?” the source queried.
But air travelers and other stakeholders expressed the belief that low fares attract more passengers, many Nigerians who travel by road with its attendant risks could opt for air travel if the fares are affordable.
