By Itohan Abara-Laserian
Airport managers have been urged to diversify revenue sources and embrace route marketing to ensure long-term sustainability, competitiveness and financial viability across Nigeria’s growing aviation sector.
Mr Fortune Idu, Convener of the Airport Business Summit and Expo (ABSE 2026), made the call on Tuesday during the summit’s opening in Lagos.
The summit, with the theme ‘Unlocking Airport Revenue Potential: Strategies and Partnerships,’ featured Idu’s presentation titled “Understanding Airport Revenue Stream.”
He predicted that route marketing would become a defining factor for airport success over the next decade, urging Nigerian airports to prepare strategically.
According to Idu, airports must balance aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue streams to strengthen financial performance and remain globally competitive.
He warned that airports ignoring route marketing risked losing airlines and passengers to neighbouring facilities offering stronger commercial incentives.
Idu explained that diversified revenue supports operational stability, infrastructure development, cargo expansion, financial resilience and broader economic growth.
He cautioned against excessive dependence on airline charges, saying such practices could discourage airlines from operating at affected airports.
According to him, increasing numbers of airports nationwide would intensify competition for airlines, passengers and investment opportunities.
He said modern airports now extend beyond runways and terminals into airport cities and aerotropolises, creating wider commercial opportunities and stronger revenue potential.
Idu revealed that passenger service charges generated approximately 77 per cent of global aeronautical airport revenue.
He said landing fees contributed about 21 per cent, while parking fees and aerobridge charges accounted for roughly one per cent each.
“Airports are still strictly managed by government, yet people think airports do not have competition.
“I can assure you that in the next 10 years, if you do not understand route marketing as an airport manager, your airport will become irrelevant,” Idu said.
He said airport performance should increasingly be measured by how effectively aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues were balanced.
“An airport that wants to be greedy will kill the opportunity of airlines flying and staying in their airports,” he said.
Idu described sustainable airports as those complementing aircraft-related income with commercial earnings from retail, parking, restaurants, advertising and other airport businesses.
He urged airport managers to avoid imposing excessive charges, noting that aviation regulators globally monitor airport pricing to prevent unfair practices.
Idu commended the Lagos State Government’s Lekki-Epe International Airport project as a significant development likely to reshape aviation competition.
According to him, the new airport would compete closely with the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two when it becomes operational.
He encouraged airport managers to adopt business-driven management, build strategic partnerships and maximise commercial opportunities within and around airport facilities.
Airport managers, aviation operators and other industry stakeholders attended the ABSE 2026 summit in Lagos.
