..as high cost of operation ‘forces’ international airlines in Nigeria to fly from Ghana

Major international airlines operating from Nigeria’s busiest airport, Lagos are wooing Nigerian passengers to board flights from Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to their various destinations in Europe and other parts of the world, reports the ThisDay news publication October 14, 2011. The airlines, aware that a large number of their passengers are in Nigeria, have put in incentives in the form of fare reduction, slashed by almost 50% for passengers who travel from Ghana to their operational hubs in Europe, the report said.

According to the publication, these major carriers have adopted this strategy due to “the cost of their operation in Nigeria, including high cost of fuel, which is relatively cheaper in Ghana, high cost of navigational and other charges, security threats in Nigeria and poor facilities at Nigeria’s airports.” These airlines are also hurt by inconsistency in policy making by the Federal Government, it adds.

The publication however did not name any airline company but cited that “For example, cost of upper class of Virgin Atlantic Airways from Accra to London is N385, 000, while it is N821,000 from Lagos for flights scheduled the same day and the same time…Also, cost of first class ticket of British Airways from Accra is N773, 798, while from Abuja is N1, 081, 977 and Lagos is N1,365,998. British Airways club class inbound on a Sunday to Accra N481, 498, while Lagos is N918,234 and Abuja is N776,223.”

This means the Ghana airport will get busier as increasing numbers of passengers from Nigeria will be flying to Europe and other parts of the world through KIA. Meanwhile, the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has indicated that KIA needs expansion.

“By then, they must have established Accra as their operational base and the Nigerian passengers would have no other choice than to travel there to board their flight as these airlines are likely going to withdraw their services or limit them in Nigeria,” ThisDay said.

Meanwhile, officials at GACL, operators of KIA, declined to comment when contacted by ghanabusinessnews.com on how it will cope with these passenger arrivals if it happens.

Air traffic in Ghana is said to be 15,225 in 2009 and projected to hit 27,882 by 2024.