Scheduled domestic airline operators have been experiencing a business windfall as the flow of passengers transforms into a fever-pitched rush, on account of heightened political activity prelude to next year’s general elections, as well as the customary bustle of Christmas.
As the February 2015 general elections draw near, politicians and their supporters have been holding meetings and conventions which culminated last week and this week, in the primaries of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) at which candidates were picked for various elective offices.
These activities saw massive movements of politicians, their supporters and those who provide anciliary services, such as catering, security and entertainment among others, in most parts of the country.
Much of this was group movement, done by air and caused the routine scheduled airlines to begin to undertake charter flights, even though they are supposed to be scheduled operators whose role is different from that of the charter/unscheduled operators.
The diversion of the airlines from scheduled to charter operations caused several scheduled flighs to be delayed, with stranded passengers in long waits at airports across the country.
Our reporter learnt also, that the first class cabins of many scheduled airlines were taken up by politicians.
A visit to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 and the General Aviation Terminal, over the past days, showed a sea of passengers waiting for rescheduled flights.
“We hear that many of them are now carrying passengers for politicians or for a large group of people going on picnics, that is where they quickly make money at the moment”, an industry source said.
BusinessDay learnt that one of the airlines was ordered to be grounded by Osita Chidoka, Aviation Minister, for a few hours between Thursday and Friday last week, when the delay situation was unbearable.
“I think there is need for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to quickly intervene in order to nomalise the situation, even-though, there could be natural delays or cancellations, the airlines keep attributing their artificial delays to operational problems”, Adunola Prat, a frequent traveller said.
Analysts say non-scheduled or charter operations in Nigeria constitute a multibillion naira business which competes with scheduled commercial operations and involves largely foreign registered aircraft with foreign registered crew while most of the aircraft are owned by Nigerians.
With an average of about $6,500.00 for one hour charter, the charter operators rake in huge amounts of revenue every month, from mainly government officials, oil companies and some Nigerian businessmen
