Flight Restrictions Cost Lagos Airport Over N15b In Revenue
PROTRACTED flight restrictions of both local and international flight operations in the last two months may cost Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA) as much as N15b loss in revenue. The sum covers unmet targets in passenger service charge, sundry charges on other airport- users, land transport services and toll charges at the access gate, among other income generating sources for the managing Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN).
The government had in March placed a restriction on local and international flights, as part of efforts to contain spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. The restriction excludes cargo, emergency and essential flights, as approved by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika. The restriction was further extended on May 6 for another four weeks.
While it is not yet clear if flights will resume at the end of the current restriction, the losses to the Lagos facility, which is both the biggest in passenger traffic and revenue, are not in doubt.
A visit to the airport recently showed a complete opposite of the erstwhile chaotic arena. Not only was there to travelling public, support services, retail shops and kiosks were also under lock and key. Only very few staffers were noticed in the international wing. Both Murtala Muhammed Terminal II ( MM2) and General Aviation Terminal ( GAT) were completely barred to the public.
Sources at FAAN’S Corporate Affairs department told The Guardian that the losses would be in billions, though “no one can say exactly how much for now, because we are still counting.”
“Don’t forget that the disruption started at the beginning of the year. It was after the harmattan haze that led to flight diversions to neighbouring countries. Operations didn’t fully recover, as foreign airlines were already feeling the pinch of Coronavirus.
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