By Matthew Denis
Air passengers at the Ilorin International Airport on Friday expressed happiness over the ‘fly to vote promo’ by one of the commercial airlines operating at the airport, Arik Air.
Pilot Aviation observed on Friday that beneficiaries of the promo were airlifted from the airport en-route Abuja in the evening.
Findings showed that most of the travellers had purchased tickets online and only had to present their Permanent Voters Cards to check-in for their flight.
However, passengers who attempted to purchase the promotional tickets at the counter were turned back as the airline had been fully booked.
A passenger, Mr. Uluku Solomon who spoke to this medium confirmed that he was a beneficiary of the promo and expressed delight over the development.
He said, “I am traveling to Makurdi from Abuja to cast my vote. I was able to purchase my ticket online on Tuesday. I’m very impressed with the the development,” he said.
Another passenger, Mr. Desmond Ogbonna lauded the airline for the promo and encouraged other airlines to do same for the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections as a form of social responsibility to Nigerians.
A female passenger, Hajia Tafisu Issa who could not purchase the promo ticket with her PVC at the counter of the airline, however, commended the airline for the gesture.
“I learnt that beneficiaries of the promo who were airlifted today (Friday) had already booked their flights since Monday. I was told that the airline had been fully booked.
Earlier, The spokesperson for Arik Air, Mr Adebanji Ola had said the patronage of its “Fly-to-Vote promo’’ by Nigerians, ahead of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, was encouraging.
Recall that the airline had said that the N16, 000 fly-to-vote promotion was to encourage Nigerians to travel to their respective wards to cast their votes during the elections.
It explained that customer must, however, present a valid Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) at the point of purchase and at check-in, to be eligible to fly.
According to Ola some Nigerians had taken advantage of the slash in airfare to participate in exercising their civic responsibilities.
“The patronage has been encouraging. People have been buying tickets to go back to their respective wards, in order to participate in the elections.
“The procedure remains that such passengers present their PVCs and the N16, 000 covers all our 17 domestic routes. We have put this promotional fare in place to enhance voters’ participation in the elections”.
