Professionals in the aviation industry have disagreed with the Regional Manager of South East Airports and Manager of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Hilary Umunna’s claim that the coming of Enugu Air, which signalled the commencement of an airline, would tremendously increase passenger traffic to the state and equally enhance revenue generation for both the state and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Discussions among industry experts started after the aircraft with the inscription ‘Enugu Air’ landed at Akanu Ibiam International Airport on Friday.
While Umunna told journalists that the coming of the airline will boost passenger traffic, industry experts disagreed, saying only Lagos is in need of one more airport and not necessarily an airline.
While speaking with journalists over the weekend, Umunna said apart from boosting revenue generation for the state and FAAN, the new airline would also create job opportunities within the aviation ecosystem and increase tourism.
He said: “We anticipate positive economic ripple effects for Enugu State and the South-East region, fostering trade, tourism, and business growth. One of FAAN’s goals is to sustain and expand partnerships that will make Enugu a strategic aviation hub.”
Umunna, who previously worked with the Cross River State Government towards the emergence of Cally Air when he was the Calabar Airport Manager, said that AIIA Enugu had taken several steps to ensure that most of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s operational and regulatory requirements were met.
Some of the requirements, according to him, included infrastructure enhancements, improved ground handling services, security reinforcements, and compliance with international safety and operational standards.
He further explained that FAAN had streamlined coordination between all stakeholders to facilitate smooth operations for the airline.
He said, “I am honoured and excited to welcome Enugu Air to Akanu Ibiam International Airport. Their presence enhances connectivity, boosts economic activities, and aligns with our vision of making Enugu the preferred aviation hub for the southeast.
“AIIA Enugu is committed to ensuring a seamless and efficient operation for the airline and its passengers,” he added.
Reacting to Umunna’s position, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority licensed commercial pilot with over 30 years of experience, Captain John Okakpu, asked the operators to “look before leaping”, thereby ensuring adequate feasibility studies are done before commencing the operations for a new airline.
He said only Lagos State Airport, with over six million passenger traffic and over 100,000 flights, can think of developing airports, not less than two, and not necessarily airlines at the moment.
He added, “Where are the passengers coming in the midst of Asaba, Umuri, Owerri, and maybe soon, Ebonyi? The population of the passenger air traffic in these regional states’ airports is less than two million, if not one and a half million. Enugu International has far less than Owerri and less than 500,000 annually, so how much of the figures is Enugu Air in its business plans going to compete with the airlines on the ground at the airport? Look before you jump is what I heard and knew, and not jump before you look.
“The passengers are not there if we can’t attain the 20 million we planned for 2020 at all our 26 airports. We are in 2025 struggling to achieve the same in 2025, struggling for 20 million in a population of 200 million, whereas J’B alone in SA receives over 20 million air passengers annually. Don’t increase the number of airlines and airports when there is no significant increase in passenger traffic in the airports around you.
“OGUN State Airport had better watch it before it ends up the way of Ekiti and Osun. A little word is sufficient for the wise.”
Also speaking with our correspondent, retired Chief Pilot Capt. Mohammed Badamosi lampooned the state government for the alleged ill-planned airline, blaming the same on the increased federal allocation to the state.
Badamasi also advised the handlers of the airline to revisit the feasibility studies they conducted before venturing into the capital-intensive business.
He said, “I think that the increase in the Federal Government allocations to the state governments is responsible for this madness of jumping into troubled waters. They have better projects than floating an airline.
“I guess the government must have engaged a consultant to do a feasibility study to determine the viability of the project and was paid handsomely by providing them with their heart’s desire. What happens to the project after they leave office is not their business anymore. It becomes an uncompleted and abandoned government property, like many abandoned buildings.
“We have aviation stakeholders from the state. Why can’t they add their voices to the conversation? Apart from the criminal intent, illiteracy, and the lack of understanding of what they are about to dip into are responsible for this kind of behaviour.”
