Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, two things about the Nigerian private aviation sector have become common knowledge: business aviation requires a revamp, and Nigerians are gradually shifting their perception towards flying private.
While the global aviation industry was one of the worst hits when the pandemic struck in 2020, the Nigerian private aviation sector is still yet to recover from the catastrophe, having lost $1 to $5 billion in the estimate.
Chiedu Albinus, the West African Correspondent for African Aerospace disclosed that as of August 2022, private jets in Nigeria were less than 100 compared to 146 in August 2015.
The current market situation shows that regulatory challenges and lack of innovation have set the sector in a tailspin.
The continuing problem with maintenance infrastructure and the cost of maintaining aircraft have grounded many private aviation operators in Nigeria.
Illegal charter operations by several private jet owners are stifling the economic growth of business aviation in the country, as there are also emerging concerns of poor flight services and threats to safety regarding inadequate and inexperienced technical personnel managing the operations of a myriad of business aviation flights.
Despite these lingering problems, Philippe Scalabrini, President – Europe & Africa, VistaJet in a statement said business aviation operators in Nigeria have experienced a surge in client patronage since the pandemic, as more Nigerians are now flying privately.
Funmi Fabunmi, the Managing Director of Leading-Edge Aviation Company remarked in 2023 that many Nigerians realized during COVID-19 that flying privately transcends pleasure and class but is a necessity to beat the hassles of delays and uncertainties linked to commercial airlines.
Last year, the percentage of flight delays in Nigerian airports rose to 21.79 per cent– a slight increase from 20.67 in 2022. Abrupt cancellation of flights and safety concerns are other issues associated with commercial airlines in Nigeria.
Philippe Scalabrini stated that the inescapable necessity of private jet charter in Nigeria keeps gaining momentum, adding that the country has the third largest private aviation operators in Africa, only behind South Africa and Kenya.
“Years ago, flying privately was mostly linked to government officials, top executives and expatriates flying in and out of the country.
“Today, a portion of Nigeria’s youth population have joined the growing list of private jet travelers. These are emerging nouveau riche, who consistently travel across Europe, Asia and the Americas to conduct businesses on an international scale,” Scalabrini said.
He said with an exponential growth market in the offing, business aviation in Nigeria needs a breath of fresh air.
According to the International Air Transport Association, the air transport market in Nigeria is forecast under the current trends scenario to grow by 174 per cent in the next 20 years. The Nigerian private aviation sector will be expected to lead the charge towards that direction.
Scalabrini stated that VistaJet’s renewed commitment in the West African region, of which Nigeria is one of its target markets, raises expectations in concert with the expected growth potential.
He said that as the global leader in business aviation, the company’s sterling reputation is unrivalled. Private charter flyers in Nigeria will quickly come to discover the gulf in class between a VistaJet and other aircraft managed by private operators.
The brand, he said is a renowned paragon for safety, exclusivity, reliability, efficiency, anonymity and flexibility in the world of private aviation. And its best-in-class Cabin Hosts, trained by the British Butler Institute, MedAire, deliver the highest service standards.
VistaJet’s flexible flight policy allows clients to book their flights at short notice to anywhere in the world, he added.
