Air Fares Remain Stable As Dana Air Resumes Operation

Air fares in the domestic airline market has remained stable as Dana Air resumes operations, even thoughthe industry analysts had earlier on predicted a crash in air fares.

Though Dana Air currently charges the lowest fare of N14, 400 to Abuja, other airlines including Aero and Arik Air had continued to charge higher fares on the domestic market.

Dana Air currently operates to one destination - Abuja and only three times a day, which has so far not significantly impacted on the operations of other airlines in the domestic market. According to an airline workerwho preferred not to be named, the other airlines are not threatened by the airline's commencement of operation because Dana Air ought to do more to enjoy the patronage of most air travellers.

A visit to MMA2 Terminal, Lagos showed that airlines like Aero Contractor still collects between N27,000 to N30, 400 for flights to Abuja, IRS takes between N18, 000 to N22,000, Chanchangi flights to Abuja cost N25, 000 while Dana Air's fares to Abuja starts from N14, 400 while those who booked online pay N11,000. Arik Air fares takes between N30, 000 to N35, 000 for trips to Abuja depending on the time of the flight.

Investigations reveal that even though Dana Air is yet to achieve full load factor in any of its flights, passengers apathy to the airline's operations seems to be waning, as some of the airline's customers are booking and flying the airline despite the aircraft accident involving one of its airplanes in June last year. However, some air travellers have said the airline must do something different like changing its aircrafts before they will have the courage to travel on any of their aircraft.

According to one Mohammed Abdulaziz, who said he booked with the airline to travel from Lagos to Abuja in one of its flights, he had been a regular traveller on Dana Airbecause he works in Abuja and his family lives in Lagos.

He said, "I don't have any fear of buying the airline's ticket. I have been a regular flyer with the airline and I won't stop now because of the air crash. Any airline could have a problem with its aircraft. As for me, I will continue to fly with Dana".

However, another traveller who identified himself as Francis said he will not fly with the airline yet "because for me it is a psychological thing. I prefer to use an airline that will be comfortable for me; I expected Dana Air to restart operations with another aircraft like a Boeing 737."