The domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja and Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos recorded a total of 3.56 million domestic air passenger travels in the first half of 2021, jointly accounting for 67.7% of the total number of domestic passengers recorded in the period.
This is contained in the recently released air transportation report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
According to the report, a total of 5.28 million domestic passengers travelled by air between January and June 2021, representing a 29% increase compared to 4.1 million recorded in the previous period, while it increased by 6% compared to 4.97 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2020.
Abuja, Lagos Airport Accounts For 68% Of Domestic Travels As Air Activities Rises In H1 2021
This indicates a rebound in air travelling activities in the country from the restrictions placed on movement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, it is yet to hit pre-pandemic levels of 7.13 million and 6.36 million in H2 2019 and H1 2019 respectively.
The air transport sector which is valued at N50.78 billion according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, contributing a meagre 0.08% to the total GDP, was hugely affected by the covid-19 induced movement restrictions.
