FAAN: Air travellers should expect flight delays, increased fares

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says passengers should expect flight delays and increased fares when flight operations resume.

THISDAY Newspaper reports that Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN corporate affairs manager, said check-in procedures during arrival and departure would last longer due to more checks that would be carried out.

Yakubu was reported to have made the comments during a webinar organised by Women in Aviation (WIA) Nigeria themed ‘Aviation: The New Norm in the post COVID’.

She also disclosed that escorts of VIPs will no longer be allowed to follow their subjects into the terminal, adding that such individuals would be subjected to all health checks.

She added that social distancing; temperature checks; compulsory wearing of face masks; and disinfecting of shoes and passengers luggage will be enforced at all airports.

“We are going to expect flight delays, flights will experience delays from checks and re-checks,” she was quoted to have said.

“We have been told that so many activities and procedures will take place in front of the terminal. So air travellers are expected to leave home very early so that they can get to the airport on time.”

She explained that passengers should also expect that airlines will charge more, adding that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had estimated that there will be a 45 percent increase in fares.

According to Yakubu, the changes in air travels is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the usual way of doing things will have to change to ensure the safety of passengers and airport staff.

She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic will make people cut down on non-essentials which could result in low demand for air travel.