Travel Chaos: Passengers Slam Poor Airport Services Despite Fare Hikes
Passengers are furious over chaotic airport operations during the festive season. High airfares, delayed flights, and poor service have made traveling a nightmare. Airlines blame weather changes and infrastructure issues, but travelers say mismanagement is the real problem.
At Abuja Airport on Wednesday, passengers crowded a single boarding gate for 12 airlines. Long delays and confusing schedules left many stranded. Air Peace passengers heading to Port Harcourt faced repeated delays. Their flight, set for noon, was moved to 3:30 p.m. and delayed further.
Tensions flared when Ibom Air called for boarding to Port Harcourt while Air Peace passengers were told the weather made flying unsafe. “How can Ibom Air fly there, but Air Peace cannot? I paid N230,000 for this ticket and got nothing but a Coke for refreshments,” said frustrated passenger Benedict Akinsiku.
Another traveler, Mohammed, endured a six-hour delay on an Abuja-Lagos flight. Scheduled for 7:00 p.m., it departed at 1:45 a.m. “We got no updates or food. We were stuck with no options,” he said.
Airline staff cited sudden weather changes for the disruptions. A station manager explained that a flight diverted to Abuja caused a chain reaction of delays. He urged passengers to remain patient as airlines worked to manage the issues.
In another incident, United Airlines delayed its Lagos-Asaba flight after a passenger attacked a crew member. The incident grounded the aircraft for hours, causing more delays across their network.
Travelers are demanding better communication and services. Many feel airlines are failing to justify the rising ticket costs. This chaotic holiday season underscores the urgent need for reforms in Nigeria’s aviation industry.