It has not been business as usual with respect to passengers and flights traffic flow at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, as the usual flow has tremendously reduced.
The Tide has observed that the wave of increase and scarcity of the JetA1′,  otherwise known as aviation fuel, has contributed immensely to the increase in air tickets and rationing of flights to Port Harcourt Airport.
Some of the airlines, such as the United Nigeria and Green Africa airlines that operated once or twice weekly, have for over a month now been absent at the airport.
Last Friday the situation became more severe, as all Abuja-Port Harcourt bound morning flights did not arrive until late afternoon, while those that came to receive their beloved ones waited endlessly.
As if it was a deliberate plan to delay Abuja-PortHarcourt passengers, one of the officers of the airlines at the airport (name withheld) in response, said no flight would be allowed to fly to Port Harcourt, if there is not enough passengers to foot the bill for the huge sum spent in buying aviation fuel.
Meanwhile, a former Commissioner for Works during Dr. Peter Odilli’s administration, Chief David Briggs, in reacting to the situation, on his arrival at the airport, blamed the situation on high cost of tickets.
In a chat with aviation correspondents, Briggs said a lot of people will have to consider their pockets before embarking on an hour journey that will cost thim more than N100,000.
“How can you keep flight ticket at that rate and expect much patronage all the time, except for some serious cases. The country is going through some challenges right now”, he said.
Some of the airlines, The Tide has gathered, have deviced a means of delaying and rescheduling flights movement, so as not to fly at a loss, but to ensure there are enough passengers that can enable them to break-even.

By: Corlins Walter