Recession takes toll on Nigerian, foreign carriers

A slowdown in the major global economies is taking its toll on passenger air travel. The situation is same for Nigerian carriers, which are also going through financial crisis occasioned by tough economic environment.

An aviation management consultant, who spoke to woleshadare.net under condition of anonymity, said the situation is not limited to Nigerian carriers, adding that foreign airlines operating to the country have jettisoned the use of bigger aircraft for relatively smaller, double isle airplanes, because of shrinking passenger traffic.

Nigerian travellers have also cut down on frequent foreign trips due to harsh economic reality. This has equally affected foreign airlines whose traffic figure could be on the decrease by the end of this year. The source cited British Airways, which has replaced its B747-400 airplane that it has used on the London- Lagos for many years with B777.

The airline’s Area Commercial Manager, Paolo De Renzis, had, in an interview with our correspondent in London recently, disclosed plans to keep on reviewing “our work as network changes. We operate B777 in Abuja and B747 and B777 to Lagos and this is the current plan.”