Flight Operations on the Port Harcourt—Abuja route has significantly increased at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, as against what it used to be in recent past.
The Tide observed that this improvement in number of flights on the Abuja route became noticeable with the coming of the Nigerian Eagle, otherwise known as “NG Eagle” airline to Port Harcourt airport.
Before now, some airlines such as Air Peace, Dana, Aero Contractors, and the United Nigeria Airlines were the airlines that kept the Abuja route afloat, with Aero Contractors and United Nigeria having specific days in the week within which they fly the Abuja- Port Harcourt route.
Unfortunately, the suspension of operations of the Dana Airlines by the aviation regulatory agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), brought a new twist in the flights operations on the Abuja route, as other airlines resorted to cancellation of flights, rescheduling and irregular operations with its negative impact on the travelers, with many lamenting the development.
Such scenario gave room for arbitrary hike in the flight tickets in many instances on the Abuja route, as many passengers on the route had to book in advance to secure their seats, giving room for extortion by some fast airline staff who used the opportunity to make brisk business.
Recently, the scenario has changed, as other airlines: the Arik airline, Value Jets, and Ibom air, have stamped their feet, and are now plying the Abuja route, in addition to the few that were in operation.
This development, The Tide gathered,  has reflected on the prices of flight tickets positively, as prices for tickets has adequately reduced, particularly in the NG Eagle airline.
Reacting to this development while interacting with The Tide, one of the travel agents at the airport, Chima Wobisike, said the development was a good one.
“Abuja passengers have suffered so much because of lack of flights. Some of my clients sometimes had to go through Lagos to Abuja on emergencies, and that is additional cost.
“I couldn’t figure out how an airport like the Port Harcourt airport will be having issues on flight operations from and to Abuja, were many passengers are ready to travel”, Wobisike remarked.
He, however, expressed joy that a change has taken place with the coming of other airline to operate on the Abuja route, to create the desired competition, as it was some years back.

Corlins Walter