Passengers stranded, scamper for tickets as airlines begin shutdown Monday

Plans by airlines to shut down operations starting from Monday, May 9, 2022 has left passengers scampering for tickets at airports across the country.

WesternPost had earlier reported that the airlines in a letter to Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika announced a shutdown over the rise in price of aviation fuel.

Sirika in his response to the airlines however appealed to them to rescind their decision.

The aviation minister urged the airlines to consider the multiplier effects on passengers and the country that shutting down operations would have on travellers.

Our correspondent gathered that the effect of the planned shutdown is already being felt with passengers finding tickets hard to get.

Among those caught up in the mad struggle for air tickets are some governors, captains of industry and top politicians eager to access Abuja ahead of the shutdown.

“I am here at the airport, and there are a lot of people here as I speak. I haven’t even been able to get a ticket to leave here, and I don’t know if I would be able to get,” the source told WesternPost.

“Even big men are not left out, as they are also not able to get tickets, in fact, some governors are even here.”