Aero Contractors in my view is a budget airline only that it is not so-called. The airline has been advertising very low fares to all its destinations, for some time now. I dragged myself into flying Aero twice in recent times, to satisfy my curiosity on how they could offer such low fares. This blog post is based on what I could see as a passenger who has no expertise in aviation.
Aero Contractors (Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Ltd) or simply “Aero” is an airline based in Lagos, Nigeria. It operates domestic and international scheduled services, air taxi, charter and third party aircraft operations, largely in support of Nigeria’s extensive oil and gas industry. Its main base is Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The Premise
Aero offers such low airfares at this time, it is alarming as to how they achieve this considering that some of their fares are less than 50% that of their leading competitors – Arik Air and Nigerian Eagle Airline – especially on the Lagos – Accra – Lagos route. Take the up-coming flights as outlined in the following table as a case study.
| Lagos to Accra – One Way flights for 18th March 2010 as advertised on the respective websites of the airlines | |||
| Airline | Fare in Nigerian Naira | Equivalent in USD | Source |
| Aero | NGN 7,612.85 | $50 | flyaero.com |
| Nigerian Eagle | NGN 30,653.00 | $201.32 | virginnigeria.com |
| Arik Air | NGN 32,249.00 | $211.80 | arikair.com |
From the above information, Aero’s flight costs only 23.6% that of Arik Air and only 24.84% that of Nigerian Eagle.
How do they pull it off?
The following factors are those I have observed. I do not have access to their maintenance logs and thus unable to comment on aircraft maintenance, staff remuneration and other hidden factors.
1. Book & Pay over the Internet
An advertisement banner on flyaero.com showing one of their fares and placing emphasis online booking & payment.
Aero places a lot of emphasis on direct sales of tickets over the Internet thereby avoiding fees and commissions paid to travel agents and computer reservations systems. The very low-fares they offer would not be possible without the Internet. Thus, their radio ads are geared towards directing potential passengers to their website flyaero.com
Booking can be completed online with payment via four methods:
- Interswitch: Nigeria’s leading ATM/debit card network and payment processor
- Etranzact: another local payment gateway available in Ghana and Nigeria
- Book On Hold for Ghana only: potential flyers can book for a flight and place it on hold for 24 hrs and then pay at any UBA branches in Ghana.*
- Book On Hold for Nigeria only: potential flyers can book for a flight and place it on hold for 24 hrs and then pay at any Oceanic Bank branches in Nigeria.*
*To pay through the bank, booking should be for a flight at least 48 hours ahead.
2. Hidden Fees
When booking for a Lagos – Accra – Lagos flight, you would be faced with an optional “International Insurance” cover fee costing N1,500 ($9.85). From their website:
Insurance (International) This covers for flight cancellation and holiday packages for passengers travelling into and out of Nigeria only.charges on this cover is based on per persanger per day.
Please note that it is not possible to change date, destination or name of passenger once the insurance has been purchased. Standard and Deluxe insurance is only available to people who are resident or domiciled in Nigeria.
Adding the “Insurance fee” to your booking would push your fare upwards to N9,112.85
Note, the Insurance fees is available to domestic flights as well.
3. In-flight meals need to be paid-for
A N1,500 meal on an Aero flight. Photo by Oluniyi D. Ajao.
Aero last year introduced the idea of passengers paying for refreshment mid-flight should they want any and gave it a fancy name, Aero Sky Snax. From their website:
In Flight Meals-aero Sky Snax
With effect from 16th November, 2009 aero begins sale of a variety of affordable mouth watering snacks, soft drinks and beverages on-board for your enjoyment.
The upside about paying for the meal is that the passenger is not compelled to pay when he/she is not in a position to eat. Also, the passenger can order for the quantity of snacks that is really enough to satisfy unlike the little appetizers typically offered by the other airlines.
The downside is, any passenger willing to eat but without extra naira in his/her wallet would fly hungry. Aero does not accept card payments mid-flight.
4. Minimal uniformed staff
Aero, from the flights I have taken, maintains very few uniformed staff. The check-in staff in Murtala International Airport (MMIA) Lagos and Kotoka International Airport (KIA) Accra are contracted from another company that offers those services. This would aid their cost-saving and low-fares drive.
An Aero Boeing 737-400 jet on the tarmac with other airplanes in Kotoka International Airport, Accra. Photo by Oluniyi D. Ajao.
5. Shared Office
Though Aero maintains a full office inside MMIA fully manned by its own staff, it shares a ticketing cubicle with Arik Air inside the departure hall of KIA.
6. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable
Aero offers no refunds or transfers to later flights in the event of missed flights, i.e. if the aircraft leaves on time without a passenger who arrived late, he will have to buy a wholly new ticket for the next flight.
7. No frequent flyer programme
Unlike Nigerian Eagle, Aero does not offer any frequent flyer programme and thus all the money that would have been invested in running such a programme are saved. The passenger can thus apply the saved funds to other things.
It is also important to note that Aero’s fares typically increase as the plane fills up. Thus, the low fares are only guaranteed for early reservations. Also, the GHC25 airfare Aero is presently advertising in Ghanaian newspapers exclude taxes and so many other fees.
Should you have additions or questions, do well to leave your comments in the comments area.
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l want to know how much a return ticket will cost me if l want to travel to nigeria next thursday in ghana cedis
this booking on hold thing is still confusing.Does it mean u can actually book online and pay the actual onine fee at Oceanic bank as advertised?
i want to book an airline from lagos to ghana from 31st march- 5thh April. this cheap flight you are talking about, is it real?
I want to travel to Nigeria and I want to know if the GHc25.00 airfare you advertise is very real. Is it a promotion. How do I apply for the ticket.
how can i book on line from ghana to nigeria , lagos . is the 25.ghc promotion real?
I’m an NYSC corp member. I want to fly from Lagos to Kaduna and want to know if the cheap flight rate applies to me, if so how much precisely? I also want to know if there is direct flight.
how much is the total ticket flight from lagos to accra and from accra to lagos on 14th to 15th of may, 2010?
Femi, you really should check flyaero.com
Does Aero offers any discount on booking for atleast two weeks before the time. If yes, what are the procedures? I am from Abuja, Nigeria.
when will the booking of cheap flights from lagos to benin end?
I need a return ticket from lagos to calabar, what is the rate at the moment.
thanks 4 ur incisive look at aero and cheap flights. i looked at the insurance package but i did not see any coverage for passengers in case of plane crash. I also believe the insurance should not be optional.
I have flown without the so-called insurance and all was well i.e. I missed nothing. The insurance thing is useless. None of their staff could explain the relevance.
what is the cost of a return ticket from accra to lagos/abuja
will be very happy to know by close of work tomorrow
pls i want 2 to know the present flight ticket from Abuja to lagos and returng ticket.also how to pay for the flight ticket.
What is the cost of a one way ticket from Abuja to lAGOS for a mother with a two and a half year old child?
What is the cost of a one way ticket from Abuja to lAGOS for a mother with a two and a half year old child using the online method?
how much is return ticket frm ABJ-LAG? when will this promo end?
pls i want 2 knw the cost of return ticket from abuja 2 lagos. ad also the cost of return ticket for a mother ad an 3months old child.
pls hw much is a return ticket from abuja to lagos on the 27 to be back on the31st may? also a mother ad a 3month old baby? pls its urgent. thanks
I want to commend aero for their kind gesture. Pls i want to know the flight ticket from Abuja – Lagos for 27/05/10 and the return ticket. Also, how to pay for the flight ticket.
i want to book 2weeks for my sister in lagos to kaduna wath will it cost me?
My name is Hammed and am from Ogun State, please i want to know the cost of the ticket from Lagos to Accra on 10th day of june 2010 till 10th of August 2010 please let me know how much is the return ticket.thanks
i want to no how much is ticket from Lagos to Sokoto.thanks
@David
Nice article. But folks here must be assuming that you work for Aero going by the CUSTOMER DESK kind of questions they are asking. I don’t think it will hurt if they navigate to flyaero.com to get the needed clarifications instead of asking you
Aero contractors’ cheal flights; Certainly the airline company must have a means of investing of these cheap funds to multiply into the real flight amount before the two weeks specified duration for the flight. I m interested in know which finacial investment they carry on.
1.i will like to know if you travil from accra to lagos without a passport
2.how much is the fair and where can the ticket be bought
1. You cannot travel outside your country (by air) without a travelling passport.
2. See flyaero.com
I want to book a return ticket -Lagos to Owerri on June 17th {go} June 21st {return} 2010. How much? and which of the banks should I pay in the amount? Time of flights? Can I book for 3 persons?
How can 1 register to lagos nd return ticket?
Head to flyaero.com
I have tried many times to book through the internat, since you can only enjoy the low rate through the internaet booking, it just could not go. Why can’t I just go to the bank and pay?
Pls,i ve a two and half yrs old child and 11month baby. We intend travelling 4rm accra to port harcourt. can the children travell without passport?and how much is the online booking 4rm accra to ph.with the children.
wats d return ticket fron nigeria to dubai and maidugiri to lagos?
Please I just want to know how much is aero flight ticket from Lagos to enugu
I want to book for return ticket from lagos to kano and back to lagos, flight on the 19th to return on the 20th of june and same date for lagos to kaduna,kaduna back to lagos, Thank you. waiting for your swift response.
Pls,I intend travelling at the end of this month to and fro lagos-kaduna-lagos.I would like to confirm if you still do the cheap rate flight….
Best regards
Captain Tunde
I want to travel to Lagos from Abuja on 19th june back to Abuja on26th june. how much is d ticket, to and fro. how do i make the payment here in Abuja
I want to travel to accra on 19 july and return on 23rd july. Can I pay now and am I certain the plane will leave on those days. What time do they leave for accra and back to lagos (flight schedule)
Thanks.
pls l want totravell from Lagos to ph on the 23th of july and come back on the 25th july 2010.pls let me know how much your online promo
booking is and how to apply.
Thanks.
I want to travel to Accra on 5th July and return on 9th July. Can I pay now and am I certain the plane will leave on those days. What time do they leave for Accra and back to Lagos. (flight schedule)
How much will i pay and to which bank account?
IN VIEW OF YOUR ADVERTISEMENT ON TELEVISION, HOW DO ONE APPLY FOR THE ACCRA LAGOS ACCRA AIR TICKET?
Please I will like to know if there are flight schedulles on Aero for sokoto-lagos and the fare
Thanks
I”M going to nig dis weekend pls,what is d fee like?
Sincerely Aero Contractor has put smile onto the faces and easiness into the lives of the masses by this low price. More grease to her elbow.
pls send to your online booking webside address to enable me do my flight booking.
thanks
people, david has said it all…. i flew to nigeria on the 14th of june 2010 in the morning, from accra. its no surprise, all about aero is true. the best way to get it cheap is to book online(48 hours before departure) and u qualify for this 25 ghs.
the other charges are are basically airport taxes. in all , i paid 107 ghs. which is more cheaper, faster and hustle free, compared to travelling by road , not to talk of border hustles.
i really wish aero could expand its services to all other countries in africa. thank you aero…. i’m grateful
Thanks man.
u are welcome david, anytime a pleasure. good job
i want to travel from Lagos to Abuja 30th July and come back on 31st of July . pls with your promo booking how much will it cost me and how to apply.
Do Aro contractor fly Nigeria-london? if yes, how much will airfare be for a round journey. that is to and fro london
Aero does not fly to London.
please how can i book this #3000 k ticket from phc to lagos online. if am booking it and it still giving me the normal booking price. please tell me how to book it thank u
You need to book well ahead of the trip. At least, over a week ahead. That’s when you’re guaranteed low fares.
will they refund me money cos they are charging me normal booking price. i wont to now
Your best bet is to consult Aero directly.
my trip to dubai fly emirates was wonderful&comfortable.my return i heard of aero contractor airline.nxt first trip to ghana accra,i used aero contractor,i was impressed by hostess,pilot.i think with time they will improved by putting tv,earpiece(music),games, magazine(fashion)…even though the journey is short.its comfortable but i was sad for not listening to music.i would have come with my ipod,dutyfree magazine,others brought theirs .they should atleast sell wrist watch/designer glasses or tell the passenger on seat something fun/intresting/medical stuff.these will help the passenger alot.i love aero contractor even though the trip is short/long.it was a relaxing&comfortable place.keep the good work
Goody,please i want to inquire how i can pay for my flight tick from Accra to Lagos Nigeria and how much it will cost me.
Regards
Mr Oliver
Hello
Please confirm to me, a return ticket fare from Abuja to Port Harcourt on promo and also fare for 5-10yrs old baby.
please treat as urgent cos’ i want to book now.
Cheers
Chucks O.
how are my sure that i will not miss my flight if i register online because i must be in ghana by monday
Good day.i’m having my nysc in gombe state and i want to know if aero flies from gombe to lagos and also from gombe to ibadan.if yes,pls i want to know the cost and know if it’s different for corpers
please inform me how much a return ticket from lagos to kaduna cost.
please i want to know if the promo from uyo to lagos is still on?wat about the promo from lagos to accra?i wish to trael on sunday the 25th of july……..pls reply as
pls how much is your flight ticket to owerri and what is the time schedule like.thks
Please i want to book for port harcourt to lagos (return ticket)for the 9th of August, how much will it cost me under promotional fares and the flight schedule for that day?.
Quick response will be nice.
Thanks
Tammy