Five airlines restart flights amid strict protocol
• Uncertainty over bailout funds, onboard physical distancing
• Travel experts project a 30% load facto.
• ‘New normal’ awaits travellers, no food in-flight
Barring last-minute changes, at least five of the nine local commercial airlines will this morning take to the skies in a restart of scheduled flight services following three months of COVID-19 lockdown.
The staggered resumption, beginning with the Lagos-Abuja route today, will serve as a test-case for flight operations in the COVID-19 era. Other routes into the remaining four of the six designated airports will also open, beginning from this weekend.
However, the first phase is not without uncertainties, because the Federal Government has not released the N27 billion bailout fund it promised the sector. More so, the controversial directive on vacant middle seats and less than 70 per cent capacity for all carriers has still not been resolved.
About eight operating carriers had in late March closed operations following a massive slump in passenger traffic and various restrictions by Federal and State governments in an effort to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
Following the heavy cost of prolonged closure and new safety measures for the COVID-19 era, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, recently announced that domestic flights would resume on July 8. Sirika said only the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos would commence operations today.
The Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri, and Maiduguri airports will reopen to flights on July 11, while other airports across the country will join from July 15.
The aviation industry is the fastest and safest means of crisscrossing the nooks and crannies of the country. Though it currently contributes about 0.8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it has the potential to be a major contributor to the economy at full capacity.
Checks by The Guardian showed that five of the airlines were already marketing airfares for the resumption of flights today. They are Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Arik Air, Dana Air, and Ibom Air.
While Med-View Airlines Plc remains grounded, others including Overland Airways, have expressed readiness to begin operations on July 15.
The Public Affairs’ General Manager of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Sam Adurogboye, confirmed that all the scheduled carriers, except one, had been cleared in accordance to compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocol.
Many private charter operators were, however, denied resumption approvals over alleged non-compliance with new safety regulations.
He added that the airline would be operating three daily flights from Lagos to Abuja in the first phase of the restart while Port Harcourt would be added to the schedule from Saturday, July 11, 2020, when the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, would be reopened for operations.
Passengers were advised to arrive at the airport three hours before the scheduled departure so as to have ample time to undergo security and health protocol before the flight. Furthermore, all passengers are required to come properly kitted with their face masks.
Media and Communications Manager of Dana Air, Kingsley Ezenwa, also said the airline was 100 per cent ready.
“All Personal Protective Equipment has been made available for all staff, crew and passengers who might not come around with one. All recommended training and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for staff have also been updated and concluded.
Culled from t.guardian.ng.
