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Operators project six million international passengers in 2014

By on May 18, 2014

Passenger movement for international air travel has been projected to rise to six million from over four million recorded in 2013.

The factor adduced to the massive leap include the growth of Nigeria’s economy in the last two years, the increase in international travel by Nigerians and the influx of foreigners, including investors and professionals, whose services are needed in the country.

The privatisation of the power sector, the rebasing of Nigeria’s economy, making it the 26th largest economy in the world have boosted socioeconomic activities, international travel and business, as more major carriers and others have started operation from Nigeria.

Airlines like Royal Jordanian, RwandAir, Gambian Bird and other new airlines that are operating into the country have charted new destinations for many Nigerians who hitherto may not have been travelling overseas, opening up new business opportunities overseas.

Travel expert, Ikechi Uko noted that this projection reflects massive growth of Nigeria’s economy in the last two years, which is a milestone, adding that it means that the rebasing was not a fluke and it establishes Nigeria as a global player.

Passenger movement statistics from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) showed that in 2011 there were 14, 900, 396 passengers airlifted both by foreign and domestic carrier, which was about one million more than the passenger movement in 2010, which was 13, 981, 677.

Domestic passenger movement was 11, 313, 577 which was higher than the previous year of 10, 267, 926.

In 2011 foreign airlines air lifted 3, 588, 818, which was higher than the foreign passenger movement in 2010 of 3, 234, 853. In 2012 there was no marked improvement in passenger movement in the domestic market; in fact the market shrank when compared to that of the previous year as the total passenger market was 14, 370, 795 with growth less than that of 2011.

But while the domestic market shrank, there was a marked growth in international passenger movement which rose from 3, 588, 818 in 2011 to 4, 066, 429 in 2012.

In 2013 the domestic market shrank further with total passenger movement of 13, 950, 699 but with marked growth in international travel which rose to 4, 752, 413.
Within this period more foreign airlines had joined the Nigerian market while some domestic airlines like IRS, Chanchangi, Capital Airlines, Associated Aviation and others had disappeared from the market.

Many industry observers believe that as Nigerian economy continues to grow it would continue to attract foreign investors and Nigerian citizens would continue to be empowered.

THISDAY learnt that few years ago majority of Nigerians who travel abroad go for business, conferences and others for greener pastures, but there is a growing number of Nigerians that now travel for leisure; for holidays while more luxury goods and services are finding greater market in Nigeria.

There is also a boost in medical tourism as more Nigerians now travel abroad for medicare, especially among the middle class, a service that used to be a preserve of the wealthy in the past.

It was Amos Akpan of Capital Airlines that noted that the Nigerian domestic market is not growing because of high fares, high fuel cost and other operational costs. He said that new passengers are not coming to fly because of the high cost, so the domestic market is recycling passengers, but more Nigerians are now travelling abroad.

 

 

[This Day]