Though we refuse to panic at this time, we are in dire need of government’s support, if this industry will not completely collapse,” he said.įirst Vice President of the association, Yinka Folami, said the agencies needed bailout in form of access to soft loans and interest-free overdrafts to cushion the effects of the massive disruption.
We the travel agencies have already lost N180 billion. “The half traffic is not enough to sustain their cost of operations and it is just a matter of time before they shut down, if the problem drags.
He said while foreign carriers have either withdrawn or scaled down operations due to loss of traffic, the local airlines are not left out as they already have 50 per cent loss of the market. NANTA President, Bankole, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that the industry has been worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with the global industry losing $200 billion in revenue. Only Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA) and Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, (DNMM) will be opened to accept international flights irrespective of the type of operation. “Effective from 00.01 hours Saturday 21st March, 2020, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano (DNKN), Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu (DNEN), and Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa (DNPO) will be closed to international flights.” The DG NCAA added that the Lagos and Abuja international airports are designated for international flights only. “All persons arriving into Nigeria, who might have visited these 13 countries, 15 days prior to such arrival, will be subject to supervised self- isolation and testing for 14 days.” “All operators wishing to operate or fly into Nigeria are required to operate with two sets of flight crew (augmented crew) one set to operate into Nigeria and the other set to operate out of Nigeria.
The NOTAM, made available to The Guardian, stated that the travel restrictions is applicable to all flight crews from the countries affected. Recall that Arik Air has announced the temporary suspension of flights to all its West Coast destinations effective Monday, March 23, 2020.Īir Peace airlines has also declared readiness to scaled down operations, disclosing plans to suspend Dubai operations in response to the adverse effects of the pandemic. But if we don’t have people going to the airports, meet with carriers to facilitate their cargo, where do you expect the cargo to come from?” The cargo sector or aviation generally is a big hit because most of the carriers that do not have freighters, they do a combo. “When it started, it was like a joke we all thought it would soon pass away. Nwokoma said it began with slow traffic, then cancellation of flights, and great reduction in cargo traffic. President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives of Nigeria (AFARN), Kingsley Nwokoma, said the empty terminal was the effect of a “troubled industry and very difficult period” since the outbreak of COVID-19. The coronavirus has infected more than 200,000 people and killed more than 10,000 globally, with almost 80,000 people having recovered from the infection, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. The ban takes effect from midnight today. Nigeria was the latest to also slam travel restrictions on 13 countries that have COVID-19 prevalence. President of the association, Bankole Bernard, said the travel agencies urgently need government’s intervention to save the industry from imminent collapse, should the coronavirus spread and economic impact worsens.Īs at yesterday, about 90 countries have thus far imposed some travel restrictions and border closure in moves to prevent the spread.
The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) yesterday said they had been forced to either downsize or place staffers on half- salary, while the forthcoming yearly general meeting earlier slated for next week in Kano had been postponed indefinitely. These countries are: China, Japan, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, U.S., UK, Iran, France, Norway, South Korea and Germany.Īnd the massive global disruption in flight movement and travels is taking a heavy toll on airlines and travel agencies. Musa Nuhu to all operators stated that the restriction of entry into the country for travellers from the 13 countries took effect midnight of yesterday, March 20. The NOTAM signed by the Director General, NCAA, Capt. Similarly, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), yesterday, issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) on the travel ban and restriction of all foreign flights to Lagos and Abuja airports
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