Air fares rise over airline’s woes

[TGD]

 • Govt lifts suspension on Dana

AS expected, the lingering crisis in the aviation industry that has led to the grounding of Dana Air and the industrial unrest in Aero, has shot up airfares.

Most of the airlines have raised their fares by 20 to 30 per cent with choices limited and demand for air travel overwhelming existing airlines like Arik, Medview, IRS and Chanchangi Airlines, since the two troubled airlines (Aero and Dana) both have about 50 per cent of the market share.

However, the Minister of Aviation Monday lifted the suspension on Dana Air. So from Tuesday, the airline is expected to recommence operations two days after the Minister and not the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended the carrier for reasons Dana said was not known to it.

Spokesman for the Minister, Joe Obi, in a statement, said officials of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) met with the management team from Dana Airlines Monday in Abuja and deliberated on some safety issues in connection with the operations of the airline.

He disclosed that at the end of the meeting, "the suspension of the operations of the airline, which took effect last Saturday was lifted".

His words: "The airline is to resume normal operations immediately. However, the particular aircraft, which had a snag over the weekend is to remain grounded until after its air-worthiness has been recertified by Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft."

A passenger, who called The Guardian from Abuja, said Arik and IRS have raised their fares by over 20 per cent.

The traveller, who gave his name as Johnson Maduka, said he was shocked when the ticketing staff of Arik told him that air fares have been adjusted by N5,000, making an hour flight to Lagos from Abuja to cost between N40,000 and N45,000 depending on the time.

He said the same thing obtains with IRS and Chanchangi that have raised fares to the same amount.

Maduka, who described what is happening as a big rip off, called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority's Consumer Protection Directorate to wade into the situation to save the sector from imminent collapse.

The grounding of Aero through industrial action and Dana by the Minister of Aviation for inexplicable reasons has brought untold hardship to hundreds of travellers who could not afford the fares.

A trip that is over an hour like Kano, Maiduguri, Sokoto, now costs as high as N55,000 and more.

Many now take to roads, as their choices are limited. The airlines are over-booked, passengers are frustrated by "no more seats" chorus by the airline officials.

At the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, some who could afford the fares, were ready to pay more for Medview and IRS just to get to their destinations and to meet with their appointments.

Aviation consultant, Olumide Ohunayo, had told The Guardian on Sunday that Nigerians should brace up for a high fare regime, reduced competition and appalling services, adding that these decisions by the Ministry of Aviation have made nonsense of the autonomy of the NCAA.

Former Commander, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), expressed concern over the sector. He said what is happening was expected, adding that with Aero and Dana troubles, airfares would double as existing airlines would want to capitalise on passengers' glut.

According to him, "The airlines think they would make money because of the problems of these two airlines. They will make money quite all right but at the expense of safety. They will make more trips than what they are expected to do, but they would over-stretch their equipment and personnel and that will lead to compromising safety. The sector is shaky as it concerns safety. I am scared for this industry now than ever before".

The sector is again witnessing a difficult time, reminiscent of the period last year when Arik Air withdrew its operations following the disruption of its services by some unions.

That period coincided with the time Dana Air was grounded after the June 3, 2012 accident, demise of Air Nigeria and suspension of operations by Chanchangi.

Passengers had a hectic time as Aero and IRS could not cope with the massive traffic.



The Guardian