Victor EzejaAirline Operators have expressed worry about deficit infrastructure which causes delay of flights at airports.
The operators specifically complain of lack of counters for domestic airlines to check in passengers at the Abuja Airport.
This could result in delays and probably cancellation of flights.
Chairman of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema, pointed out that only few counters are available to domestic airlines to check in many passengers at the same time.
Speaking at a book launch titled: ‘Air Transportation In Nigeria: The Lingering Expectations,’ held at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex, the Air Peace boss said it would be a big challenge checking in thousands of passengers in the Yuletide as a result of increased number of flights.
Ahead of the Yuletide, many airlines had brought in new aircraft to augment their fleet size and boost operations.
However, the challenge is how flight operations would be managed as the airport lack capacity to handle flights from Abuja to destinations like Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano, Uyo, Asaba, among others all at once.
Mr. Onyema stated that, at the Abuja Airport domestic terminal, about 10 airlines are cramped into one small space to execute their flights to various parts of the country.
The Air Peace CEO accused the airport authority of giving preferential treatment to foreign airlines by giving them large expanse of space while Nigerian airlines in international operations, are left with three counters to operate from.
He described the act as a disservice to Nigerians who are trying to get it right under harsh environment.
He stressed that airlines are not solely responsible for flight delays as infrastructure to support the airlines are not provided.
Onyema called on the authorities to address the disparities and general dearth of infrastructure in the airports that cause flight delays.
He also stated that the old international terminal in the Abuja Airport is lying fallow and urged the authorities to move some of the airlines to the space to enable them have more counters to attend to large number of passengers.
On the readiness of the airlines for the yuletide, Onyema said, ”In aviation there is no half and half, we are prepared. Yuletide season, no yuletide season we are prepared but we need to have infrastructure to make it happen. A situation where that is lacking then there is going to be problems.
“Airlines are prepared, they have the means, most airlines are using two planes and the NCAA is alive to its duties of regulating us properly, safety is assured that I can tell you. The issue of seamless operations is out of our hands. The airport authority must have some questions to answer too.”
He said the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has written to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) regarding the present challenge.
“We have written to FAAN, in fact the AON has written to the Ministry and have written to FAAN on the issue of the Abuja check in terminal it’s crazy out there, nine or ten airlines in one small space, it is not encouraging.
“However, a few days ago, the MD of FAAN spoke to me and said they were going to do something about it. What we are asking for is expansion. The old international terminal ( Abuja) is lying fallow. Airlines, some of us should go there so we have enough counters for check in. Not when they give you two counters and you’re checking in thousands of people, delays will surely come and I tell the flying public to stop blaming the airlines for delays.”
“Ten airlines in one cubicle in Abuja is unacceptable, cramping the airlines without facilities. The airlines are not responsible for all the delays on routes flown,” Onyema lamented.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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