As the economic
depression in Nigeria continues to reduce spending capacities of individuals and organisations, the passenger traffic at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, has further reduced.
The Tide has observed the passenger traffic witnessed currently, especially between the second half of the third week of September is far below the passenger traffic in the last two months.
Our correspondent reports that the usual busy V.I.P lounge is now being greeted with fewer travelers, even at the peak periods, and the same also applies at the general waiting lounge for departure and the arrival.
A staff of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who does not want to be quoted, told The Tide that the economic situation in the country is affecting the passenger traffic, adding that most of those who frequently use the airport are not very frugal with their spending.
According to him, many people now travel only when it is very vital, so as to reduce the frequency of their movement.
For Mr Beneth Iwedi, a car hire service operator, the reduction in passenger traffic at the Port Harcourt airport is attributable to the suspension of Aero contractors airline, which was a major operator over the years at the airport.
He said that the Aero charges and flight ticket is lower than other operators, and that since they suspended operations, flight tickets in other airlines had increased, while some travelers had taken to alternative arrangements.
Meanwhile, a former Senator who represents Bayelsa State at the National Assembly, John Brambaifa in a chat with newsmen at the airport, has said that he might resort to travelling in the economic class, due to his experience on board, as he alone sat in the business class while returning from Abuja, when the rest were in the economic class.
He attributed such scenario to scarce resources, where people are no longer willing to spend their money unnecessarily.