In response to the declining load factor since the resumption of domestic flights about two weeks ago, airlines in the country are considering code-share agreements to reduce operating cost, Daily Trust can report.
Since the domestic flights resumed penultimate Wednesday, passengers’ turnout has been oscillating between 30 and 40 percent.
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It got bad last Thursday and Friday when some flights had three, four and five passengers leading to the cancellation of some of the flights, while the passengers were re-protected on other airlines, it was gathered.
But the passengers’ figure on Saturday improved marginally even as airlines are optimistic ahead of the reopening of more airports.
As at Sunday, four more airports have been certified ready to resume operations, increasing to 10 the number of airports that have been reopened by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) after successful inspection by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Load factor on Kano, Port Harcourt and Owerri routes were abysmally low, it was gathered.
Experts say code-share would enable airlines to fix their passengers on other airlines instead of flying with 20 to 30 passengers.
Most of the airlines in Nigeria have B737 classics in their fleet which could take about 140 passengers depending on the configuration.
Most of the airlines are running at a loss considering the amount of fuel they burn but with very minimal load factor, an expert said.
Spokesman of Dana Air, Mr. Kinglsey Ezenwa said the airline had already signed a code-share agreement with about three airlines, even as he expressed optimism that the domestic air transport market is gradually picking up.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi also confirmed that the airline has opened talks with some airlines on “cost-sharing and reprotection agreement.”
On the low load factor, he said, “I still believe that what we expected was what is happening. We expected a low turnout in the beginning. We believe as the confidence of the travelling public increases, the load factor will increase. So we are confident that the load factor will increase and as economic activities increase, as the economic recovery moves forward, we believe that will also increase passengers’ patronage.”
Aviation analyst, Group Capt. John Ojikutu, rtd, said so far the statistics of passengers traffic are not encouraging.
“If the passengers traffic continues the way it’s been in the last few days, the industry could suffer more recessions than it is suffering and will lose the confidence of the public and whatever palliative government applies would end up as wastes.”
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