The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in continuation of its national data report release for the 2nd quarter of the year, released air transportation data for Nigeria for Q2 of 2017.
According to the NBS, the second quarter of 2017 saw an overall passenger traffic increase (domestic and international) by 21.06 per cent.
However, the overall passenger traffic declined by -18.56 per cent year on year.
Similarly, aircraft movement increased by 11.23 per cent in Q2 2017 over Q1 2017 but declined by -20.40 per cent year on year.
The NBS attributes the quarter on quarter growth in Q2 2017 over Q1 2017, partly due to closure of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja between late Q1 2017 and early Q1 2017.
This, it said, led to a general decline in passenger and aircraft movement and the reopening of the Abuja airport in the second half of Q2 2017 which once again increased activity in the aviation sector.
The conclusion of the NBS is further buttressed by the fact that Kaduna and Niger (Minna) airports which are both close to Abuja and serve as alternative routes to Abuja, recorded significant increase in passenger traffic and aircraft movement year on year.
All other airports across the federation recorded mostly negative year on year growth.
Statistics released also show that strong decline in year on year passenger and aircraft movement in Q2 2017 can be attributed to high double digit inflation during Q2 2017 which averaged 16.53 per cent year on year in Q2 2017.
In particular, air fare charges have grown on average 57.3 per cent at four major airports (Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt) in Q2 2017 over the average in Q2 2016.
During the period under review, air travel was largely restricted to necessary and business- related activities.
The Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos, as usual, recorded the most activities during the quarter, accounting for 40.7 per cent of domestic passengers, 74.8 per cent of international passengers, 89.0 per cent of cargo movement and 96.7 per cent of mail movement.
In terms economic output, the air transport sector in the 2nd quarter increased marginally in real terms by 0.15 per cent, slightly down from the rate recorded in the previous quarter, when it recorded 1.53 per cent growth.
