Air Passenger Statistics in Nigeria – Visualizing Ten Years of Data

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Why We L👀ked Into This »🎨 The Abuja airport had been closed for renovation works but what airports are the most viable? What airports have the highest traffic? Where do Nigerians travel to the most?

 

Air Passenger Traffic in Nigeria (10 Years)

• Before the pandemic, there were annual increases in both local and international travel – air travel had almost hit a total of 18 million passengers.
• In 2012, the Federal Government approved contracts to remodel the Nation’s Airports – the international terminals at Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu
• The Abuja airport was closed in March 2017 for 6 weeks in order to carry out repairs on the runway.
• COVID-19 impacted air travel globally leading to a decline in activity.
• Due to the pandemic, international flights were barred from March 23, 2020 to September 5 2020.

 

Air Passenger Traffic in Nigeria for International Travel

• Data available from FAAN show that Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt Airports are the most active for international travel.
• Lagos Airport consistently accounts for more than 50% of monthly international flights.
• Lagos Airport’s monthly percentage reduces in the period leading to and after hajj pilgrimage.
• The most active months for all airports is during hajj pilgrimage.

 

• The Abuja airport was closed in March 2017 for 6 weeks in order to carry out repairs on the runway. This led to the low activity in march and April of that year.
• Since 2014, Kano overtook the Port Harcourt Airport has the 3rd most active airport for international travel.

 

Nigeria’s Share of Global Air Passenger Travel 

• Africa accounts for the lowest traffic in international travel but also accounts for the highest percentage for business and professional trips (UNWTO).
• Nigeria’s share of international travel is less than 0.50%. According to IATA, Africa is the largest market
  for passenger flows to and from Nigeria.
• From 2016, this reduced to about 0.25% and the lowest recorded in 2020 due to the global impact of the pandemic.

 

Frequent International Destinations Booked by Nigerians

• Cities within The United States and United Kingdom are popular destinations for Nigerians.
• Within Africa, Ghana and South Africa come out top.