A former Managing Director, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services, Mr. Alex Elk, has expressed optimism about the huge potential in the Nigerian aviation industry.
He has, therefore, announced his intention to float a profitable low cost airline in Nigeria in the next few months.
In a statement on Tuesday, the international aviator said that he was already in strategic discussions with some French investors for that purpose.
Although he would not disclose the name of the new airline for now, he promised that it would become operational in the next 10 months.
He said, “We have made contacts with Nigerian authorities and they are quite pleased with our plans and assured us of government’s support.
“We are hopeful that the airline would succeed because it would be devoid of the mistakes associated with most Nigerian airlines, which usually lead to their early exit.”
He listed the mistakes as poor revenue accounting, acquisition of aging aircraft, lack of good reservation systems and heavy cost of overheads as well as ambitious route networks.
He explained that the emerging low cost carrier would not venture into unprofitable routes and would be run professionally with the right calibre of workers.
He also disclosed that the team was making wide consultations with mega carriers in Europe, Asia and Africa for interlining arrangements, stressing that the responses had been very encouraging.
Elk added that the promoters, which comprised both Nigerian and French investors, had already made contacts with Airbus industrie, a French aircraft manufacturer, for lease of brand new A319 for the take off of the new airline.
He promised that the fare would be very affordable but noted that there would be no in- flight refreshment.
“We will only serve water on board for an hour flight but for those who will want to have something extra, they will have to buy,” he stated.