The Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to increase the number of check-in counters to reduce flight delays.

The vice president of the association, Allen Onyema, disclosed this at a book launch, ‘Air Transportation In Nigeria: The Lingering Expectations’, in Lagos on Friday.

The book was authored by aviation journalists Olusegun Koiki and Chinedu Eze.

Mr Onyema, Air Peace chairman, said airlines were experiencing inadequate counters to check in thousands of passengers, especially during the Yuletide.

“Flight delays and probably cancellations may be a topic for discussion this Yuletide if nothing is done about the current inadequate counters for domestic airlines to check-in passengers, especially at the Abuja Airport,” said the AON vice president.

He added, “Most airlines have brought in new aircraft from two to ten to augment their operations during the Yuletide, but the challenge is beyond fleet size. This is especially if facilitation is slowed as a result of the lack of capacity of the airport to handle flights from Abuja to destinations like Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano, Uyo, Asaba etc., all at once.”

According to him, domestic airlines are left with three counters to operate even in international operations.

“However, an expanse of space is given to foreign airlines, which is a disservice to Nigerians who are trying to get it right under harsh environment,” stated the AON leader.

Mr Onyema revealed that AON had written to FAAN, the aviation ministry, regarding the Abuja check-in counters, stressing that it is discouraging for about 10 airlines to be assigned in a small space.

“However,” he said, “a few days ago, the managing director of FAAN spoke to me on the phone and assured me they are going to do something about it.”

The AON vice president reiterated that “what we are asking for is expansion,” pointing out that the old international terminal (Abuja) “is lying fallow.”

“If some of us (airlines) should go there, we will have enough counters for check-in. Not when they give you two counters, and you are checking in thousands of people, delays will surely come, and I tell the flying public to stop blaming the airlines for delays,” added the Air Peace owner.

(NAN)