There are mixed feelings in the aviation business community especially in Kano, following the planned commencement of flights to Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) by Qatar Airways, a Star Alliance member.
From March, Qatar Airways is expected to land in Kano as part of its expansion of frequencies to Nigeria amidst excitement from members of the business community in the state who have over the years lamented the limited flight options in the commercial capital of Northern Nigeria.
However, to aviation pundits, the announcement does not evoke any excitement. In fact, they see it as further exploitation of the domestic air transportation market to the detriment of the domestic players.
Qatar Airways has been advertising Kano-Port Harcourt flights which commence March 2 in Kano.
Daily Trust reports that the flights would increase the frequencies of the airline to 21 daily flights from the present 14. The airline currently flies daily to Lagos and Abuja. The addition of Kano and Port Harcourt is expected to be a tag flight as part of the determination of the airline to connect more cities in Nigeria.
In a tag flight, an aircraft makes a stop in the first city and continues to the next, before making the journey in reverse. This means that the airline would pick passengers from Kano, then proceed to Port Harcourt before heading to the final destination. This is akin to the operation of Air France back then in Port Harcourt.
Daily Trust reports that several businessmen had in the past lamented how they missed crucial international flights by having to go through Abuja or Lagos, citing the ineffectiveness of domestic flights which sometimes delayed or cancelled flights.
Earlier in the year, several Kano residents protested to the office of Azman Air for the cancellation of their early morning flight without proper warning.
Some of those that participated in the protest said they had international flights to catch in Lagos for medical, academic or…