Citing recession, high airfare, Christmas travellers resort to road transport

When his travel agent emailed him the total cost of return air ticket on the Lagos-Enugu route for his family of five, demanding immediate online money transfer to secure the transaction, Emeka Ozinna, a university lecturer, lamented that N60,000 per passenger was rather exorbitant.
After two hours’ delay, however, he transferred N300,000 to the travel agent but was surprised when the agent sent back the money on the grounds that the fare had increased to N70,000 per passenger.
That was when Ozinna gave up. He promptly asked his driver to rush to a nearby God Is Good Motors bus terminal to book five tickets to Enugu at N6,000 each for their Christmas travel the next day.
Ozinna is among many frequent air travellers who are resorting to road transportation owing to soaring airfare amidst biting economic recession.
Airfare hike during festive periods is commonplace among Nigerian airlines. This time, however, there has been frequent airfare increase in recent times as economic downturn combines with aviation fuel scarcity and foreign exchange challenges to compel airlines to hike their fares in order to stay afloat.
Arik Air is witnessing a 36-percent fare hike from N44,000 this time last year to N60,000 today for a return ticket on the Lagos-Abuja and Lagos-Port Harcourt routes.
First Nation, Air Peace and Med-view airlines have also seen 38 percent fare rise from an average of N42,000 last year to N58,000 today for a Lagos-Abuja and Lagos-Port Harcourt return ticket. Airfare for Dana Airline, which was previously N40,000 for a Lagos-Abuja return ticket, increased to N50,000 due to the festive season rush.
Consequently, intending air travellers who cannot afford the exorbitant fares are reordering their priorities and looking elsewhere for cheaper alternatives.
Chiemezie Uzonma, a frequent air passenger on the Lagos-Owerri route, has resorted to road transportation to move his goods meant for Christmas sales.
At the Peace Mass Transit Park at Ojuelegba, Lagos, Uzonma told BDSUNDAY that travelling by air was becoming a luxury for him as he could no longer afford airfares because his cost of doing business had increased significantly and flying would further increase his overhead cost.
“Airfares are going up, and sales are dropping because people like us who cannot afford the fares again are resorting to road transportation,” said Uzonma.
“At this point, it is better to save money to remain in business than to fly with your little profit,” he said.
Across Lagos, mechanic workshops are dead busy as many motorists are putting their cars in order for long distance journeys by road this Christmas. Among them are some who ordinarily would have travelled by air.
“With N50,000 I can service my Toyota Sienna, change two tyres and buy fuel that will take me to and fro Lagos-Sagbama, my village in Bayelsa. I will be driving with my family of four and two friends,” said Preye Taylor, a frequent air traveller.
“If you try that by air they will charge you not less than N400,000, besides airport taxi from Port Harcourt to my village. It makes sense to go by road this time despite the bad road, delays and security issues,” he said.
As many travellers take to road transportation to cut cost this festive season, airlines are gradually losing traffic. Road transport grew 1.265 percent in the third quarter (Q3) of 2016, from -3.71 percent in second quarter (Q2) of 2016 and 4.98 percent in Q3 2015, according to a National Bureau of Statistics report.
This is just as air transport contracted by -3.12 percent in Q3 of 2016, from -2.56 percent in Q2 of 2016 and 3.14 percent in Q3 of 2015.
“We are in a recession economy so we expect to witness high unemployment, inflation and low purchasing power. So people do not just travel now; there must be an important reason before you travel and it must have good returns,” said Simon Tumba, an aviation industry analyst.
“Traffic has depleted at the major airports, especially this festive season and this has affected restaurants operating inside the airport and some of them are closing. I believe Nigeria will achieve stability in the economy over time. If government enforces fiscal discipline and based on projections, things will get better by the middle of next year,” he said.
Tayo Ojuri, another expert, also told BDSUNDAY that aviation is a function of disposable income and that many who travel in Nigeria, especially for domestic travel, are driven mostly by business. As such, those travelling for the festive period are subjected to high fares.
“Looking at the routes, Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-Port Harcourt, Lagos-Kano, Abuja-Asaba, these routes are driven by business. The other option for airlines will be for them to increase their fares and increasing fares will mean increase in the cost of goods and services for people that travel by air,” Ojuri explained.
But for those who are resorting to road transportation, Demola Fadahunsi, a clergyman who hardly travels during festive period because of numerous church activities, is worried about the poor condition of roads across the country.
“Festive period is a time when we experience many road accidents occasioned by reckless driving and often by bad roads. If many are resorting to road transportation because of the high airfares, then we may likely record more accidents this period,” he said.
He advised that those who do not have genuine reasons to travel should stay back, enjoy wherever they are and save because 2017 would be tougher.
“We are not getting out of the recession soon, why fly if you can’t afford it? Why risk the danger on the road if there is no pressing need to travel? We are in the time of lack, and people should learn to save. You can send money, food items and even pictures to people at home or visit when the rush is over,” he said.
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has, however, assured Nigerian of smoother travel this festive season as long as motorists adhere to rules, observe road signs and maintain moderate speed.
“There is no need for rush. A million cars can drive through a narrow lane within hours if all the drivers follow instructions and orderly movement,” said an FRSC official who would not be named.
“Those travelling for the festive season should make sure their vehicles are road-worthy for their safety and not for FRSC’s sake. Your tyres, fire extinguisher, caution signs, and even tool box should be in tact just in case of mechanical emergency. No FRSC official is happy parking a vehicle and delaying travellers this festive season; it is all for drivers’ and passengers’ safety,” he said.

 

EMELIKE OBINNA & IFEOMA OKEKE