Wings Issues Ongoing Nigeria Business Travel Warning Based on Fuel Crisis
Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 May 2015; Global travel management company Wings® Travel Management has issued a travel warning for all travelers to Nigeria, prompted by the current fuel shortage crisis. While it has been reported that fuel producers and the Nigerian government have come to an agreement, and that fuel is in the beginning stages of distribution, Sonja Hamman, Director, Strategic Client Management – Oil & Gas for Wings Travel Management states that business travel arrangements may be impacted for the coming week.
“International carriers are operating for the moment, with some airlines (Emirates and SAA) choosing to refuel in alternate locations such as Accra in nearby Ghana,” explains Hamman. “Although these flights are operational, delayed arrival times can be expected as a result of refuelling in alternate locations.”
“Domestic carriers, Arik and Aero Contractors, have been the most affected by the fuel shortage, with both cancelling a large number of flights. There has been little to no advance warning of which flights are cancelled, resulting in huge inconvenience to travellers. Wings is advising our clients to delay all non-essential travel, if at all possible.”
“In cases where travel to, or within, Nigeria is absolutely essential, travellers must be prepared to accommodate last-minute changes or delays to their travel schedules. Travellers need to ensure that they have up-to-the-minute information about the current conditions at their destination, and are encouraged to reach out to their Wings Travel Management consultants and account managers for assistance. We are monitoring the situation through our Lagos office, which is collecting on-the-ground intelligence, and we are working closely with our clients as this situation unfolds.”
While air travel has become inconsistent, road travel is proving even more of a challenge and business travellers who need to commute have to make their arrangements well in advance to ensure that they are not left stranded. Leaving alternative arrangements to the last minute is not an option due to the possibility of interrupted phone connectivity. The effect of the fuel crisis is immediately visible in major centres such as Lagos and Abuja, where traffic volumes have dipped sharply.
“The fuel shortage is more far reaching for day-to-day Nigerian life,” says Hamman. “It is extremely difficult to find petrol and diesel for cars, and the cost of public transport is increasing – pushing the price out of reach for commuters. This means that employees cannot travel to work, resulting in offices, shops and banks needing to close early, or operate skeleton services.”
Concludes Hamman, “The latest media reports indicate that government and the wholesalers have come to an agreement, but how quickly fuel supply will be normalised remains uncertain. In addition, the cost of business travel may also be significantly impacted by the shortage for the foreseeable future.”
About Wings Travel Management: Wings has carved a niche in the market as a trusted travel provider for clients in the oil, gas and marine sector, as well as companies operating in service- and people-critical industries where travel is an integral part of their business. Founded in 1992, Wings’ global reach spans North America, South America, UK/Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, where the company has wholly owned and managed regional offices. Wings is known for its unique expertise in navigating complex and challenging energy-related business travel, as well as its advanced, customizable technology solutions, all seamlessly accessible over a standardized global platform. The company is ISO 9001 certified, and manages its global operations with a quality management system that provides clients with comprehensive reports, including the proprietary Wings Incident-Free Index™, which tracks the performance of all service and supplier transactions.