Boom Time for Private Jet Operators as Travellers Shun Commercial Flights for Charter Services

Chinedu Eze

Some Nigerians, especially those who returned from overseas with their families have shunned commercial airlines and opted for charter of private jets to take them from Lagos and Abuja and to other parts of the country.

Those who can afford the cost, it was learnt, decided on that option because of the uncertainty associated with schedule commercial airlines, which include flight delays, cancellation and spiraling airfares to some destinations in the country.

It was learnt that some private jets with charter permit from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have been making the kill since early December as they have been criss-crossing the country, airlifting passengers from one airport to another. On Tuesday, about 10 private jets were sighted at Asaba Airport, capital of Delta State, and on the same day, about six private jets were parked at the Chinua Achebe International Cargo Airport, Umueri, Anambra State.

THISDAY learnt that there is increasing demand for charter services that aircraft that have permit for non-schedule commercial operation cannot meet.

Some private jets on Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), which by law should not operate commercial charter service are being tempted to join the market because of the high demand.

One of the private jet, a Bombardier Challenger 601 parked at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State with registration number withheld, is one of the busiest jets in Nigeria since this past week. It belongs to Orlu billionaire (name withheld). It’s been doing multiple flights between Abuja, Lagos and Asaba, Umueri, Owerri, Enugu and Port Harcourt airports since this last week.

According to a source, “A one way trip on the Jet cost between N7 million-N10 million, which is about the lowest possible charge this season. Given the cost of flying the regular commercial airlines per person, people with large families are opting for private jet charters, which provides flexibility, comfort and are less time wasting. The fact that the jet accommodates 12 persons makes it more cost effective.”

The Managing Director of Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, Anambra State, Martins Nwafor, confirmed to THISDAY on Wednesday that chartered private jets have been dropping families at the airport.

He said that people are taking private charter as a more reliable option because of the high cost of fares on schedule commercial flights, noting that private jets are more reliable and abide by the client’s time.

“Instead of paying N400, 000 per flight on commercial schedule airline, those who can afford it charter private jet. The advantage is enormous. You will be on time and you can get it at about $7, 000. I recall that we have two or three of such flights, which landed here and dropped some families. It is more reliable because of the high cost of flight and delays and cancellations,” he said.

THISDAY tracked the cost of flights from December 22 to December 25 2024 and discovered that average fare to eastern part of the country is about N300, 000 for economy class. Flights between Abuja and Lagos still go on average of N250, 000 and to northern part of the country still go for N180,000 to N200, 000 and Lagos to Akwa Ibom is about N250, 000.

The lower fares to northern parts of Nigeria obviously have to do with the demand. Demand is not high on those destinations this season, while they are high on the southern part of the country, especially South-east and South-south.

It was also learnt that passengers are still rushing for flights despite the efforts of the airlines to acquire more aircraft on wet lease for the Christmas season.

“I was surprised that even on Christmas day passengers filled the airport and were still rushing to board their flights. In the last five days it is still the same and it will continue like that till December 28 and even beyond that. In fact, there is no seat in Uyo, Enugu and Owerri flights in the next three days. The rush is really much. I paid 302, 000 for a seat for Uyo passenger today.

“I didn’t imagine that there will be this number of passengers this year, looking at the economy but I am surprised that even more than last year, there is rush for flights on Christmas day. This has not happened before and we are expecting that this rush will continue till December 28 or even into the next year,” an airport protocol official told THISDAY.

He also said that although bad weather occasioned by harmattan haze has disrupted flights this year, “it is not yet as bad as it used to be in the past, where flights could only take place very early in the morning and in the evening, but this year, clear horizon appears during the day, which make airline to operate some flight and it is this hiccups that has made some people for opt private jet services.”

An NCAA insider, however, told THISDAY that some private jets with PNCF would have joined the market if not for the stringent action taken earlier in the year by the regulatory authority, after some incidents involving such private jets. The source also told THISDAY that before NCAA intervention, some of the private jets without commercial charter permit fully operated the service and made whopping sums of money during the Yuletide period.

In July this year, NCAA had grounded the operations of private jets with PNCF and decisively began to monitor their flights with the help of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which gives startup to flights.

In reaction to one of the incidents in July, involving a private jet, the regulatory authority said: “NCAA Regulations 2023 Part 18.3.4 forbids holders of Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) from using their aircraft to carry passengers, cargo or mail for hire or reward (commercial operation or charter services).”

As a result of the flagrant disregard of the rule, NCAA said it had earlier directed all holders of PNCF to undergo re-evaluation, which should have been concluded by the 19th of April.

It was learnt that some of those private jets with PNCF had migrated to commercial charter licence and they are the ones making the kill right now with unlimited demand for their services.