As Nigeria struggles with the problem of non-viability of majority of her airports, The Group Managing Director, Finchglow Holdings, Mr. Bankole Benard has offered clues of what to put in place to make airports tagged as non viable to become profitable.
Bankole who spoke as the chairman of the 26th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) held at Sheraton Hotels and Towers Ikeja, Lagos; with the theme: ‘Sunset Airports – the Safety and Economic Implications, urged airport owners and operators to focus on improving connectivity for their airports and dwell more on provision of non- aeronautical infrastructure that would drive more traffic to the airports.
He argued that doing these would increase both aeronautical and non-aeronautical traffic to such airport resulting in higher revenue.
Specifically, Bankole advised that the provision of facilities like shopping malls, alternative source of power would enhance commercial activities and boost non-aeronautic revenues of such aerodromes.
The Finchglow Holdings boss added that government could also consider the provision of affordable hotels, which would give credence to investments.
He emphasised that the ability to provide Bed and Breakfast (B&B) hotels around the terminals of some of these airports would be of great attraction, while also increasing the viability of the airport as well.
With these, he argued that any airport within the country would be viable and attract more travellers to it.
He observed that only four airports out of 22 operated by the federal government in the country; Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano have 24 hours services, while the operations of the remaining 18 airports are restricted to only daylight operations.
According to him, efforts to enhance the operations of Owerri Airport, another international aerodrome to operate from sunset to sunrise had proved abortive over the years.
Bernard who emphasised that aviation operates with international standards, appealed to every government operating an airport in Nigeria to think outside their boxes and take a cue from other countries, saying doing so would ensure commercial viability of their airports.
He said: “What then are the possible solutions to consider given the numerous challenges we are faced with in the industry? We can start with the modernisation of airport terminals with shopping malls. This will contribute to the commercial viability of the airports and other necessary infrastructures like the internet and constant power supply to support businesses.
“How about considering other sources of power? We must begin to think of an alternative power supply like renewable energy to keep the airport functional and reduce the cost of operation in the long run. This will also make the airport viable and attractive.
“Lastly, there is the area of interconnectivity within the airports. The interconnectivity of the local airports to the international airports will contribute to the economic viability of these airports. It will also bring the connection to such airports; hence it will not be limited to one drop-off and pick-up.”
