An investigation has found that airline employees and touts are taking advantage of the current aircraft shortage at airports to make money.
The investigation revealed that tickets for passengers who cannot make it on their flights are sold to the highest bidder at the terminal upon departure. Then airline officials block the seats on their websites, making it impossible for passengers to book them.
These unscrupulous staff then sell the tickets at the airport terminal at an inflated price. Touts may also buy tickets from airlines and resell them at an inflated price to desperate passengers who use fake IDs to commit the illegal act.
In addition, airlines sell business class and premium tickets to passengers at prices ranging from 350,000 to 450,000 naira for one-way economy class tickets. However, when passengers actually board the plane, they find that they are given economy seats and no business class seats.
Journalists’ visits to terminals at national airports such as Murtala Muhammed 2nd Airport (MMA2) and General Aviation Terminal (GAT) revealed that some airline employees are working with moonlighters who work as airport cleaners and trolley workers to obtain tickets. They use point-of-sale machines (POS) instead of counters.
As a result, passengers end up paying between 230,000 and 300,000 naira for a one-way ticket from Lagos to frequently used destinations such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Enugu, Asaba, and Kano. Airlines have also been accused of closing gates 40 minutes to an hour before departure, denying passengers the right to board planes while continuing to sell tickets to the highest bidders.
“I was at MMA2 on Sunday at 5.30 pm and my flight from Lagos to Abuja wasn’t due to depart until 6.10 pm. I was surprised when the flight attendant told me I couldn’t board as I was already late for the flight. However, the ticket was issued to another passenger right in front of me,” Dipo Omoba, a would-be airline passenger, told Reporters.
According to Omoba, when he confronted the airline staff, they told him the tickets sold were for some passengers who were boarding a different flight. “I confronted the airline but they lied and said the tickets sold were for the second flight.
“When I asked to rebook my ticket for the second flight, I was told it was too late,” Omoba said.
Frequent traveler Obed Umuenin told Journalists he initially missed his flight from Lagos to Abuja on Sunday.
“I bought a ticket for 250,000 naira through a contact in the terminal even though I was initially told check-in was over,” Umuenin said. Femi Osunlusi, a traveler who missed his flight, said that given the reduced flights and high demand, “I feel like I am the victim of an air ticket scam by the authorities.
I arrived at the airport about 45 minutes before boarding time but still was not allowed to board. They are taking advantage of travelers’ desperation and reselling tickets at hugely inflated prices,” Femi Osunlusi, a frequent traveler who missed his flight on Sunday night, told Journalists.
Journalists observed the touts approaching unsuspecting passengers at the MM2 terminal, trying to get hold of air tickets.
“One of the touts approached me and asked the security guard sitting in the chair opposite me if he could sell me my seat for 300,000 naira. I refused but was very shocked to find the same man on the plane when we landed in Abuja,” Oludola Adeola, a media consultant said.
One of the touts, named Clement, told Journalists that he was only helping passengers who had no patience to get tickets and boarding passes. “Some people want you to do things for them, even if they can do it for them. We have money to spare, so let’s use it,” Clement said.
Journalists reported last week that few aircraft needed to carry more than one passenger on domestic routes in the past few months as Nigerian airlines struggle to reduce their fleets due to high maintenance costs. Airlines that have sent their aircraft for maintenance are unable to return them due to rising maintenance costs caused by a shortage of foreign currency.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has forced some airlines to ground their aircraft as they have been unable to send them for maintenance, a review showed.
Additionally, the closure of Dana Airlines, a relatively low-cost carrier with six aircraft, has also affected domestic fleets.
Data obtained by Journalists from the NCAA on Thursday showed that 13 domestic airlines operate in Nigeria, including Aero, Air Peace, Arik, Azman, Dana, Green Africa, Ibom Air, Max Air, NG Eagle, Overland, Reno Air, United; Nigeria Air and Valujet – together operate 91 aircraft. The data also includes aircraft under maintenance.
Sources close to the NCAA told Journalists that, excluding the grounded Dana Air, more than half of the 91 aircraft are under maintenance, putting strain on the few aircraft that are in operation.
Five years ago, there were only 10 domestic airlines operating Nigerian routes, but the company had a fleet of more than 120 aircraft, according to a report reviewed. Olumide Ofunayo, industry analyst and head of research at Zenith Travels told Reporters there were fewer seats available for the same number of passengers.
He said passenger numbers did not increase, but the closure of Dana Airlines and the currency crisis reduced seat availability affecting lease contracts and aircraft maintenance. “When airfares are high in Nigeria, formal and informal extortion takes place.
Touts collude with airport officials to book seats in advance and resell them on the day at exorbitant prices.
Passengers are eager to travel, so those who currently pay for tickets at the counter will experience chaos,” Owunayo said.
He said some airlines are sending messages to passengers informing them that flights are earlier than scheduled to depart, but these messages are sent at times when it is difficult for passengers to secure seats.
“The NCAA approves both low and high fares for domestic air tickets. These are based on the different services offered,” he said.
