Enhancing airlines’ profitability through proper route- utilisation, 24-hr operations

Over the years, domestic airlines have been accused of mismanaging funds while their managers are accused of interfering with the affairs of airline operations to the extend that they go aground few years after being established.

Apart from these issues, others like high industry charges; fuel charges have negatively impacted on their operations.

Another problem is beleaguering the sector is improper utilization of routes and aircraft.

Analysts are of the opinion that domestic airlines could grow their profits if they utilise Nigeria air routes properly rather than concentrate on the triangular routes of Lagos-Abuja-Lagos-Abuja that had already been saturated.

Experts also say the famished routes can be improved upon if the Airport facilities are tweaked to extend operational hours, by drastically reducing charges and fees at such airports and by also giving interested airlines some Incentives.

“It’s the joint responsibility of the Federal and State government to attract flights to those airports that are famished, those airports that are underutised, with the Federal government taking the lead. If they (government) improve facilities and airlines increase operational hours, it will benefit our airlines, passengers and the economy at large”, Olu Ohunayo, a travel analyst said.

The operators lamented that aircraft are spending more time on ground than in the air where they belong because some airports lack night flight facilities, shortening their flight hours.

Osita Chidoka, immediate past Aviation Minister, believes that the all-night flight operation by airlines would form catalyst for the airline sub-sector to grow at a rapid pace and contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product in greater measure than the current 0.4 per cent which he described as ridiculous.

What is needed for night flying are lighting, automated landing equipment and others that make it possible for planes to land at night.

Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Owerri and Kano airports are said to be well equipped for night flight currently, while other airports are expected to still be equiped in order to aid 24 hours flight for airlines.

The operators had said that there is no difference or any additional risk in flying at night in the country’s airspace, noting, however, that lighting on the tarmac remained the major airport infrastructure to ensure smooth operation at night.

“We are talking of infrastructure that those other countries in Europe, for instance, have got over 40 years ago. We need to develop, and move up as fast as we can in this industry and as a country,” Noggie Meggison, chairman of Airline operators had said when the ‘Aviation Commits’ was launched in Lagos he said.

Moved by the worsening situation of the airlines as they are burdened by debt, the Ahmed Joda committee had also recommended the proper utilisation of routes and airports as a way of enhancing the operations of the airlines.

Analyst also say the lot of the industry could improve if the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) uses fleet as the barometer  of measurement by moving it from the ridiculous minimum of two aircraft to ten aircraft for domestic/west coast and 12 for international route .

“An airline with two aircraft will have commercial integrity challenge that cannot attract partners, financial institutions or schedule integrity. Capitalisation is mere documentation in Nigeria, they will all recapitalise on paper while the rot increases in reality”, Ohunayo added.

Sade Williams