International trips from Nigeria to North Africa and Europe may become more expensive and take longer hours following the decision of the junta in Niger Republic to close its air space last Sunday.
Findings by flight tracker, Flightradar24 show that International airlines routinely fly over the airspace of Niger Republic of enroute Nigeria and some other countries south of the continent to reach their destinations.
But things seem to have changed in the wake of current developments in Niger.
The implication is that direct flights from Abuja to London which usually takes 6 hours on average, will now take more than 9 hours as airlines will be forced to take a detour away from Niger Republic
Speaking to AIT News, spokesperson of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency, NCAA Sam Adurogboye, says International air travelers and airlines would have to shoulder additional financial burden due to the current situation in Niger, adding that ECOWAS needs to urgently do something to address the issue.
Adurogboye noted that the regulated agencies are also on the lookout for international flight operations, particularly in relation to air safety.
A former pilot and aviation security expert, Captain John Ojukutu told Aitnews that though it is within the purview of ECOWAS to intervene in the political impasse in Niger, the West African regional block has no control over the country’s airspace.
Ojukutu said flights from Nigeria to London will have to fly longer routes through the left (West) or right (East) of the country’s borders to go north into Europe or north or south of Nigeria or Middle East as it will demand more fuel consumption which will affect operational cost and cause further increase in the prices of flight tickets.
Ojukutu said the best routes for flights heading to North Africa, Europe and Middle East is heading westwards for some time before heading north to Europe while flights going far East and Middle East can head Eastwards also for more than two hours.
He said unfortunately the longer journey will consume more fuel and other operational costs including ATC navigational costs.
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Secretary General, aviation safety initiative, Olumide Ohunayo told Aitnews that the major airlines will now re-enroute through Ghana airspace as the country will be making more money than Nigeria.
Ohunayo appealed to air travelers to be at the airport on time for their scheduled flights to avoid heavy costs during re-booking and expressed fear that the situation may extend till December due to the peak periods.
Recently, British air passengers on Airbus A380 from Johannesburg to London Heathrow went on a 10-hour “flight to nowhere” when Niger’s airspace was suddenly closed late on Sunday night.
Other airlines flights between the United Kingdom and South Africa have either been diverted to take on extra aviation fuel or forced to return to their starting points due to the situation in Niger.
(EDITOR: TIENABESO BIBIYE)
