North Airports Battle Low Patronage Amidst High Fares

Most airports in the north are facing serious operational challenges caused by poor patronage and high cost of flight tickets and insecurity, LEADERSHIP Sunday has learnt.

Except for those in Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi and Kwara states, the rest are battling with low patronage and the unavailability of airlines to fly their routes.

At the Kaduna International Airport, only Rano Air and Air Peace Airline operate in the facility.
While Rano Air operates from Mondays to Sundays except on Saturdays, Air Peace operates only three flights in a week.

A staff of the airport who made the disclosure but would not want his name in print, said the decline in the number of airlines that come to Kaduna was due to the current security challenges.

He, however, said there were chartered flights in and out of the airport on a regular basis, adding that the airlines enjoy good patronage of passengers.

He further disclosed that with security improvements, efforts were being put in place for more airlines to fly to the airport.

It was learnt that the number of flights from Yola International Airport has continued to drop due to their cancellation by airline operators.

Industry players said the current security situation in Adamawa State encourages residents to patronise commercial buses for their inter-state travels.

Some travel agencies said many residents of the state can no longer afford the high-cost travelling by air due to the current economic crunch and therefore take to the roads for their trips.

Hitherto, the Yola International Airport recorded more than seven flights daily which have dropped to three and in some cases no flight at all due to what passengers call unnecessary cancellation of flights by airline operators, the situation sometimes leaving them stranded.

Max Airline is the popular airline at the Yola Airport.

In Niger State, the airport only serves very important personalities (VIPs) to and from the state.
The airport only comes alive during hajj operations, which means the volume of traffic is dependent on the annual event.

It was however learnt at the airport that most times government functionaries use it with chartered airlines.

A source said, “For instance, during the launch of the Agricultural Revolution a few months ago, most of the important personalities came by air more than ever.”

Attempts to get the airport manager to comment on why Tinubu International Airport does not operate commercial flights despite the upgrade of the runway proved abortive.

Tucked away in the serene Lawanti village, the Gombe State Airport stands as a testament to strategic planning and community engagement. Far from the hustle and bustle of the town, yet nestled in the heart of a thriving community, the airport’s location has proven to be a masterstroke in ensuring its security.

Unlike some northern states plagued by banditry, Gombe State has remained relatively peaceful, with the airport benefiting from this stability.

However, the nefarious activities of Kalare thugs have posed a significant concern, particularly at night. Their recent brutal killing of a commercial motorcycle rider at the “Welcome to Gombe” gate along the airport road sent shockwaves through the community.

But travellers may not need to fear because a security checkpoint near the airport has bolstered its defence, providing an added layer of protection for itinerants. Despite the challenges, the airport remains a hub of activity, with daily flights operated by Overland and Air Peace Airlines. Although there is only one flight per day due to high costs, passengers still flock to the airport, seeking a safer alternative to road travels.

Yet, the exorbitant fares have become a significant deterrent, with many opting for the riskier road journey to Abuja and other cities. A flight from Gombe to Abuja now costs a staggering N146,000, a price many can no longer afford because in the past, N50,000 could fly one to Abuja from Gombe.
Flight operations at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport (SATBIA) have remained stable over the years due to a robust security strategy which ensures the safety of passengers, airline operators and staff.

Value Jet maintained a four-day flight from and to Abuja on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Similarly, Max Air and other airline operators fly pilgrims from Bauchi and Plateau states annually from the facility to Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem for Muslim and Christian pilgrimages.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that SATBIA has state-of-the-art facilities.

The airport is about 22 kilometres away from the Bauchi metropolis and boasts of maximum security. Apart from internal security arrangements, it shares a fence with the Nigerian Air Force Special Operations Centre. Similarly, it is a few kilometres away from the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Bauchi.

Another remarkable aspect of this airport is its closeness to known hotels and relaxation centres in Bauchi State, such as Bauchi Polo Club, Emir of Bauchi Place, Yankari Games Reserve, Sumo Wildlife Park and Wikki Warm Springs.

Previously, the Bauchi State government hinted of building a cargo terminal at SATBIA to deepen economic and commercial activities in the state. It is expected that the terminal, if constructed, will increase the passenger and air traffic movement in the airport.

Similarly, arrangements have been completed to start airlifting for a lesser hajj from the airport to Saudia Arabia.

When contacted, an airport official, Shehu Idris said he needed permission from the airport manager to speak to the press.

In Kwara State, there has been a considerable increase in the operations of the three commercial airlines operating from the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin.

The airlines are Air Peace, Overland and Green Africa. They operate daily flights on Ilorin – Abuja and Ilorin – Lagos routes. Overland Airlines has doubled its flights on designated three days per week.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that unlike in the past when the airlines operated with 40-passenger aircraft, they now operate with 80-100 capacity aircraft.

A source told our correspondent that more people are patronising the airlines because of the security situation in the country, adding that, “We now have aircraft with 80-100 capacity and they are getting patronage.”

The source added that the cost of air tickets has also jumped from an average of N75,000 to between N100,000 and N200,000 depending on the route.

Findings at the Sultan Abubakar International Airport in Sokoto indicate that there has been a slight increase in the number of air passengers in and out of the state.

It was gathered that the worsening insecurity in the region has led to a minimal increase in the number of air travellers.

At present, the three airlines that operate flights in and out of Sokoto State, AA Rano, Aero Contractors and United Nigeria Airlines, record adequate patronage, unlike in the past.

This, according to a staff of one of the airlines, is due to the worsening situation of insecurity especially, on the Sokoto-Gusau Highway.

The source who preferred anonymity disclosed that “the fear of kidnapping, banditry attacks on the major highways, in and out of Sokoto, has impacted on the volume of air travellers in the state.

“Unlike before where passengers take the risk of travelling by road from Sokoto to Kaduna, those who can afford flight tickets, now prefer to board airlines from Sokoto to Abuja and make a return journey to Kaduna by road or train.

However, many would have loved to enjoy the privilege of a fast and safe flight but they lack the purchasing power for the airfare. An average air ticket from Sokoto to Lagos, is within the range of N150,000, depending on the airline and the time you booked your flight.”

The Umaru Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, has experienced a significant increase in passenger traffic with the number of patrons doubling from 100 to 200 per day.

This surge in demand has led to an increase in flight frequency, with two airlines, AA Rano and Max Air, now operating twice daily, except on Saturdays.

According to official information gathered from a staff of the airport, the airport previously had only one flight per day, with two to three flights per week. The increase in flights has been attributed to the growing demand for air travel in the region, with more people opting for the convenience and speed of flying over other modes of transportation.

“For instance, we used to have about 100 people that patronised the airport previously, but now we have about 200 persons because we used to have two flights operating on a daily basis compared to one flight before.

“AA Rano and Max Air flights are the two airlines in operation at the airport. So, every day we use to have flights except Saturday, unlike it used to be two to three times in a week,” he said.

The recent increase in flights was linked to incessant banditry in the state as well as the prominent guests who came for condolence visits to the Yar’Adua family.

Jigawa State is not among those with serious security challenges in Northern Nigeria, but regular operations at the Dutse International Airport have almost collapsed due to many factors.

Early this year, the state government signed an agreement with Overload Air for a minimum of three flights in a week, but the deal collapsed within a few months due to lack of passengers.

However, chartered flights are increasing in the airport as people from Northeast particularly Yobe State preferred the airport due to security challenges in their state.

In Benue, the state does not have an aviation facility. The only airport in the state is owned by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

A source who does not want his name in print told our correspondent that because the airport is owned by NAF, there is always a clash between the Air Force and the Airline operators because there are conditions which sometimes appear unfavourable to businessmen.

Another source at the airport said the only airline, Air Peace that was operating in the state, stopped operations over a month ago due to technical issues.