By Yemisi Izuora-Lagos
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said its new “Passenger Service Portal’’ has the capacity to handle 15 million passengers at the nation’s airports before the end of 2014.
FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati in a statement in Lagos said that with the use of the portal, the authority had so far recorded 12 million passengers.
Dati said the introduction of the portal would further bring a turning point to the country’s passenger’s statistics to increase by three million before the end of the year.
He said the aviation sector had braced up for the envisaged upsurge in passenger traffic this yuletide as the portal platform would empower passengers with tools to make their travelling experience seamless.
The general manager said with over 15 million passengers estimated to be the number of those expected to board aircraft in Nigeria in 2014, the need to provide support to passengers cannot be over emphasised.
“The year 2014 has been a significant year in the aviation sector globally as it marks the centenary of the commercial aviation industry with 65 billion passengers in its kitty.
“Following that experience, aviation would later play a leading role in shaping the lives of people in Nigeria and all over the world.
“Some of these passengers will be flying for business, work and leisure. However, every passenger that flies passes through an airport and that tells a much broader story,’’ he said.
Dati said that the Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, had hit the target when he zeroed in on the need for improved passenger service at our airports.
“The launching of the passenger service portal and helpline has sent clear signals that this ebullient minister who rode to power on the back of his great strides as a Corp Marshall is matching words with action.
“Of course, picking the strategic first week of December to launch the Passengers Service Portal (PSP): www.aviationportal.com.ng and call centre helpline 0700011111 was novel and noble.
“These platforms empower passengers with information at their fingertips,’’ he said.
He said that passengers and the general public could easily access information on flight availability, local airport information, weather forecast and airline performance analyses.
“Furthermore, visitors will have access to online aviation forums, industry news and aviation commit updates.
“It will not only bridge critical lapses in the manner our airports and airlines currently operate, but most importantly improve service delivery at our airports, redress delays, cancellations, dearth of information and deplorable services bedeviling the sector.
“The passenger service portal and call centre helpline will provide a one-stop platform for passengers to get access to information about hotels, car hire services and hospitals on line.
“While airport users are entitled to seek redress for shoddy services, unruly passengers will be profiled through a mandatory identification for checking in process and possibly be barred from flying in our airports,’’ Dati said.