PHOTOS: High ticket prices, stranded businesses — low patronage as airports reopen

July 8, 2020 4:19 pm

On Wednesday, Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja reopened after months of lockdown — but not without a great cost.

Only a few airlines were operating when TheCable visited the two airports on Wednesday including Air Peace, Arik Air, Ibom Air and Max Air.

Ticket prices have gone over the roof while strict measures are in place to ensure social-distancing guidelines.

While the Air peace economy ticket for a 4pm flight to Lagos was for N33,000, the business ticket was for N90,000, according to the attendant at the ticket point.

For the same route, Max Air goes for the same price for the economy class, but for its business class the price was N65,000.

Not many passengers arrived to check in for over two hours TheCable was at the airports. Those who were travelling had their luggage decontaminated.

Contrary to the guidelines the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), some persons who were not travelling were being allowed into the terminal building.

But anyone without face masks — even if they had face shields — was turned back right at the terminal.

Screening for high temperature, a major symptom of COVID-19, was also being done while signs were indicated on the floor at strategic points to enforce social distancing.

Hand sanitisers were also kept at various points, though passengers were not being compelled to use them.

Some of the business operators at the airports, including shop owners and taxi drivers, complained of little or no patronage since they reopened.

Below are photos.