Federal Government Accelerates Airport Upgrades to Boost Aircraft Utilization by Nigerian Airlines

The Federal Government is intensifying efforts to modernize air navigation equipment and airport infrastructure as part of a strategic push to increase aircraft utilization by domestic airlines.

Nigeria currently ranks among countries with significantly low aircraft usage, largely due to limited operating hours at many airports. Regulatory data indicates that aircraft on local flights operate between seven to eight hours daily, far below the global average of 16 to 18 hours, resulting in substantial annual revenue losses estimated in the hundreds of billions of naira for the nation’s scheduled carriers.

In response, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched a nationwide modernization initiative. FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, confirmed that the authority is expanding runways, upgrading navigational aids, and installing airfield lighting at several aerodromes to extend operational hours and align with international standards. Six airports and multiple runways are currently undergoing government-funded enhancements, which are expected to enable airlines to optimize aircraft deployment into previously restricted airports.

Industry executives have highlighted the severe financial and operational impact of underutilization. George Uriesi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, noted that Nigerian aircraft fly roughly half as much as their counterparts in other regions, leading to significantly fewer annual flights per aircraft. Using conservative estimates, Uriesi calculated that each underused aircraft costs approximately ₦3.6 billion in lost annual revenue. With Ibom Air’s fleet of nine Airbus A220s, cumulative yearly losses exceed ₦32 billion, funds that could otherwise be reinvested into operations and growth.

Operational inefficiencies further exacerbate the challenge. Uriesi pointed to issues such as prolonged holding patterns in busy airspace like Abuja, where air traffic control often defaults to procedural approaches rather than radar guidance. This results in increased fuel consumption, extended flight times, and heightened safety concerns, collectively straining airline profitability.

Fleet size also plays a critical role in utilization sustainability. Uriesi emphasized that airlines operating with only three to six aircraft struggle to achieve profitability, whereas larger fleets enable better risk management, improved utilization, and stronger negotiating power with service providers and financiers.

Echoing these concerns, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, stated that Nigerian aircraft typically complete only six to eight flight sectors daily, compared to a potential 10 to 12 if airport facilities were fully optimized. He highlighted that leasing agreements in Nigeria often cap usage at 150 to 200 hours monthly, significantly lower than the 3,000 hours achievable in markets like Europe during peak seasons, due to infrastructure limitations.

Globally, active aircraft are achieving record utilization rates amid fleet shortages, though approximately 5,250 commercial aircraft remain parked due to maintenance and supply chain issues. In contrast, Nigeria’s underutilization stems primarily from infrastructural constraints rather than aircraft availability.

The Federal Government’s ongoing upgrades aim to address these systemic bottlenecks, with industry leaders urging continued collaboration between regulators, service providers, and airlines to unlock the sector’s full economic potential, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the financial sustainability of domestic air travel.