Louis Ibah

Nigerian air travellers have called for more investments by the Federal Government in navigational aids and allied infrastructure to support more airports across the country to host late night flights by local airlines.

The government as part of its Ease-of-Doing-Business policy, had in 2018 initiated reforms in major international airports to eliminate multiple check-in counters (by Immigration, Customs, Police, DSS, Quarantine,  FAAN security, and drug law enforcement officials) with the introduction of a single electronic security screening process for passengers.

In the same way, it also launched a visa-on-arrival payment and issuance policy to ease immigration procedures for investors  and tourists coming into the country.

But some passengers who spoke to Daily Sun at the Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Uyo, and Owerri airports insisted that the ease of doing business policy in the aviation sector should be extended to address some of the challenges facing businessmen and women at local airports. Although some international airports like in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt are operating flights deep into the night, passengers also want to see more airports joining the trend. 

“I want to see a situation where I can fly into Lagos from Owerri by 6am and if i conclude my deal in Lagos in the evening I can still be confident of getting a flight out of Lagos by 10pm to Owerri,” said Friday Nze, who spoke to Daily Sun at the Lagos airport.

“The government should also look at easing business for traders and business owners who use air transportation by putting in place the right infrastructure to support flights at any time of the night,” Nze added. 

Felicitas Uko, who said she deals on solar energy (importing and installing) to clients told Daily Sun the challenges she faces not being able to get late night flights between Lagos, Calabar and Uyo where she operates.

“In a country as rich as Nigeria with hundreds of air passengers eager to pay for good services, why can’t we have airports that can allow us fly between 10pm to 12.30pm,” querried Uko.

“Why must I conclude an assignment in Calabar by evening and begin to look for hotels to spend more money lodging overnight; if it is about the infrastructure why can’t the government invest and allow our airports run 24 hours like we see in other developed countries?”

Aviation analyst, Capt. John Ojikutu said having more airports with the requisite infrastructure supporting late night flights will “also help reduce the hazards associated with buses and vehicles plying the roads at nights.”

Ojikutu said there is a ready market for late night flights, especially in the South East part of the country where business men and women are criss-crossing the country and would appreciate moving by night flights if provided. Even most travellers shutting between the ever busy Lagos and Abuja route and having to pay for overnight accommodation in hotels would be too glad to return to base if they are provided night flights between 10pm and 12midight.

Ojikutu however suggested that airlines that want to run late night flights should do so as low-cost carrier.

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“It will be good for the regular travellers; but try this as low fare for Enugu, Port Harcourt and Abuja passengers and Aba/Onitsha traders only at nights for N12,000 – 15,000 only. And don’t serve meals on these low fare flights,” said Ojikutu.

“Depart not later than 9 pm to arrive destination not later than 10pm; this is reasonable if you plan your departure very well. Start with one route and follow with others,” he added.

What’s a low cost airline

Low-cost carrier or low-cost airline (occasionally referred to as budget or discount carrier, and abbreviated as LCC) is an airline without most of the traditional services provided in a normal commercial airline, resulting in lower fares and fewer comforts.

For instance, meals and drinks like tea, coffee, water, fruit juices and minerals are completely not served as part of the airline’s in flight offering to passengers.  To make up for revenue lost in reduced ticket prices, the airline will then charge passengers extra fees on request for  food and drinks as well as priority boarding, seat allocation and baggage.

Most low-cost carriers operate aircraft configured with a single passenger class, and some operate just a single aircraft type, so cabin and ground crew will only have to be trained to work on one type of aircraft. This is also beneficial from a maintenance standpoint as spare parts and mechanics will only be dedicated to one type of aircraft. Low cost aircraft often operate with a minimum set of optional equipment, further reducing costs of acquisition and maintenance, as well as keeping the weight of the aircraft lower and thus saving fuel. Aircraft used are built with seats that do not recline and do not have rear pockets, to reduce cleaning and maintenance costs.

The challenge

Olayinka Abioye, a former Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) said while applauding the idea of operating night flights in more of the country’s airports, however cited as a major challenge the safety and security of passengers leaving the airport at such wee hours and heading to their destinations.

Most airports roads are poorly lit and without security even as they are sited miles away from the city. 

“The challenge as we analysed the timings is anchored on security within the cities concerned,” said Abioye.

“For instance, a flight that departs Lagos around say, 11, 00pm or12, 00midnight will arrive after one hour or there about. How  the passengers gets to their destination/homes from the airports, became an issue, arising from bad roads, as well as the security from the airport to their home,” Abioye added.

Indeed, there abound numerous instances where passengers heading or coming out of Nigerian airports  have been robbed owing to the absence of security along airport roads. It therefore follows that for Nigeria to meet the demand of its citizens yearning for late night flights, it must not only provide the requisite instrument landing facilities at the airports, but it must also provide security along airport roads.

“I want to believe that it is doable if we plan well,” Abioye added.