Nigerian airlines are gradually moving away from deploying oversized aircraft on routes that cannot support their capacity and increasingly embracing the concept of right-sizing their fleets to match market realities.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jet Afrique, Theodore Chikelu, said this in an interview with The Guardian in Lagos during the week.

Chikelu said the Nigerian aviation industry had witnessed a shift from the era when airlines acquired aircraft based on availability or attractive purchase prices, rather than operational suitability.

According to him, Nigerian carriers in the past operated aircraft that were meant for long-haul services on short domestic routes, a practice he expressed created economic inefficiencies and increased operational challenges for the operators.

He said: “I will be very honest; from my own observation, I think airlines have been paying attention to rightsizing in terms of equipment now. Prior to now, I am not going to mention the particular airline, but I once had the experience of watching a DC-10 aircraft fly from Lagos to Abuja.

“There are aircraft that ordinarily should do long-distance trips, but we acquired them, and some of them are just parked there to do 30- to 40-minute flights. That not only puts the health of even the passengers at risk because of the pressure inside the aircraft, if you take off and land, but it is also not good for somebody who is hypotensive. That is one.

“There has been a change. If you notice, there are more smaller aircraft, propellers, 35-seater planes, and 50-seater planes, which is consistent with what the route requires. And I’ve always said: “Let the market determine the size of the aircraft you bring.”

He stressed that aircraft acquisition should be guided by market demand, technology developments and long-term operational plans.

He explained that aviation technology continued to evolve rapidly, thereby making outright aircraft purchases a risky strategy for many airlines.

Chikelu canvassed greater reliance on leasing arrangements, saying leasing gives airlines the flexibility to adjust their fleets in line with market trends and competition.

According to him, it would be difficult for older-generation aircraft to compete effectively against newer models operating on the same routes, citing the deployment of Boeing 737 classics against newer-generation aircraft as an example.

“There is no way you can put a Boeing 737-300 on a route where the B737-700 or B737-800 new generation aircraft is operating and expect the same market response. Only someone who has missed his flight and has no option will go for it,” he said.

The Jet Afrique CEO also advised Nigerian airlines against outright aircraft purchases without a clear strategic plan.

According to him, airlines that buy aircraft outright often struggle to dispose of them when market conditions change.

He explained that a more efficient approach was for airlines to start with aircraft that match their immediate demand and scale operations based on actual performance data.

He added that airlines must consider direct operating costs, load factors, revenue management and route performance before expanding their fleets.

He urged airline owners to follow approved business plans and return to the drawing board whenever operations deviate from projections.

He warned that failure to do so could push businesses into financial difficulties.

Speaking at the forthcoming two-day conference, slated for the first week of September in Lagos, Chikelu said the event would focus on developing a responsible and sustainable aviation ecosystem in Western and Central Africa.

He noted that government interventions and reforms had created opportunities for operators, but the industry needed to develop strategies to maximise them, ensuring that the conference would address all gaps in the system.

Chikelu further emphasised the importance of enhancing the relationship between aviation and tourism, maintaining that both sectors were interconnected drivers of economic growth.

Chikelu said the gathering would provide a platform for stakeholders to develop practical solutions for aviation growth in sub-Saharan Africa.