Some domestic airlines operators have expressed satisfaction on the level of patronage by passengers travelling to various parts of the country during the Easter celebration.

Some of the airlines who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday, said the airlines recorded above 90 per cent passenger traffic, during the period.

The airline officials noted that flights from Lagos to other routes were fully booked before the Easter break, adding that there was a surge in traffic.

They however, stated that ticket fares remained the same.

The officials acknowledged that patronage during the 2021 Easter celebration was far better than what was recorded in 2020, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown that grounded the airspace.

Stanley Olisa, Corporate Communication Executive, Air Peace Limited, noted that the airline had been observing an increase in passengers from Lagos to other routes recently.

Mr Olisa said the airline had planned to keep serving Nigerians with more sophisticated aircraft.

He acknowledged that there had been an increase in passenger traffic during the season, especially to some parts of the country.

“Passenger traffic during this season has been high, especially on our domestic routes.

“Last year’s Easter, people did not have the opportunity to really travel because of the COVID-19 induced lockdown and the ban on flights.

“So, obviously, passenger traffic in this year’s Easter is more, as there is no restriction on domestic air travel and no lockdown,” he said.

Kingsley Ezenwa,  Media and Communications Manager, Dana Air, said a lot more people had chosen to fly home for the celebration, as against what was obtained the previous years.

Mr Ezenwa said that Dana Air recorded between 80 to 90 per cent increase in passengers, during the Easter holidays, compared to the year before that was disrupted by the COVID-19.

The Dana Air spokesman, however, urged the  Federal Government to consider giving airline operators the interventions it promised.

He said that operators were faced with lots of challenges which included, high cost of Jet A1 fuel, forex unavailability to airlines, availability of  multiple taxes, infrastructure and duties etc.

“A lot of these issues need to be considered critically, not just for the government to announce that tax is removed, only for  the agency in charge to subtly reintroduce another.

“But we will continue engaging the government on this.

“However, the government is doing well but it can be better,” he added.

Adebanji Ola, Head, Corporate Communications, Arik Air Limited, said the airline also observed an increase in the number of  travellers from Lagos to other parts of the country during the Easter break.

He also maintained that the airline’s ticket price was still the same.

According to him, the passenger patronage during the holidays is impressive, stressing that even before the holiday, the traffic has been good.

“The 2020 Easter was held during the COVID-19 lockdown. So no comparison.

“The airline’s challenges are usually infrastructural challenges, but the government is trying; l hope there will be room for improvement,” he said.

In a related development, Bature Umar, Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos Airport Command, reiterated his total commitment to crime-free airport operations in Lagos.

The spokesman of the command, SP Joseph Alabi, told NAN that the Commissioner had put in place surveillance at every nook and crannies of the airport, to ensure a crime free environment.

He maintained that the police authorities were committed to making the airport and its environ safe and secured for travellers, airline operators and other users.

According to him, the commissioner has instructed that security operations should  be fully on ground at the airports, during the Easter holidays.

”We have a senior ranking officer in the airport, which is quite strategic. Our officers have been deployed to various areas within the airport to keep the place safe.

”The commissioner of police has also warned touts parading themselves as travel agents within the airport, that they would be prosecuted, if and when apprehended,” Mr Alabi said.