Economic recession in Nigeria is taking a huge toll on the aviation sector as Emirates Airlines and Kenyan Airways have concluded plans to review their operations in Africa’s second largest economy.
Consequently, the two airlines will suspend flights in the Abuja – Dubai and Abuja – Nairobi route.
A source close to Emirates confirmed yesterday that effective October 30, 2016, the United Arab Emirates carrier will be suspending its four times weekly flight between Abuja Nigeria and Dubai.
The decision to suspend Abuja flights by Emirates it was learnt was taken after the airline reviewed its operations to ensure best utilization of its aircraft fleet for its overall business objectives.
On its part, the Kenya Airline indicated that the suspension of its Abuja flights was triggered by the dwindling traffic from Abuja to Nairobi, the airline’s operational hub.
Kenya Airways CEO Mbuvi Ngunze disclosed this plan in a statement obtained by in Lagos which indicated that the airline would however continue to operate its daily flight from Lagos to Nairobi.
It was learnt that the suspension of the flight was triggered by the dwindling traffic from Abuja to Nairobi, the airline’s operational hub.
Kenya Airways CEO Mbuvi Ngunze disclosed this plan in a statement which indicated that the airline would however continue to operate its daily flight from Lagos to Nairobi.
The Emirates source said : “Emirates can confirm that it’s suspending its four times weekly service between Abuja, Nigeria and Dubai with effect from 30thOctober 2016.
“The decision was made after a review of the airline’s operations to ensure the best utilization of its aircraft fleet for its overall business objectives. The airline continues to serve Nigeria with a daily flight to and from Lagos.”
In a related development, Emirates Airline says it could reduce the frequency of its flights to African cities or cut routes completely if current economic and financial challenges on the continent continued.
The President of the airline, Tim Clark, announced this to reporters on the sidelines of an International Air Transport Association event in Dubai on Tuesday.
Clark said foreign airlines flying to Africa now refuel abroad because jet fuel supplies had become more expensive and scarce in some African countries.
“In certain African countries, the currencies have really gone down, so we’re reflecting on a number of these to look at where it’s just not worth us to travel”, Clark said.
He added that Emirates’ load factor – a measure of capacity utitlisation – for the rest of 2016 and 2017, would probably be in the mid-70s to low-80s in percentage terms.
Clark, however, said there would be some peaks and troughs in that time.
Emirates has started a detour to Accra, Ghana to refuel its daily Abuja-bound flight, a spokesman said last month; the airline had already cut its twice-daily flights to Lagos and Abuja to just one.