CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION                                                                                               1

1.1       Background to the Study                                                                                           1

1.2       Statement of Problem                                                                                                 3

1.3       Aim and Objectives of the Study                                                                               4

1.4       Research Hypotheses                                                                                                  5

1.5       Significance of the Study                                                                                           5

1.6       Study Area                                                                                                                  6

CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUAL AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK                    9

2.1       Introduction                                                                                                                9

2.2       Conceptual Framework                                                                                               9

2.2.1    Air Transport, Trends and Globalisation                                                                    9

2.2.2    Flight operations in Nigeria                                                                                        10

2.2.3    The Airline Market- Legacy and Budget Airlines                                                      12

2.2.4    Globalisation and Future Trends of Airline Passengers Movement                           15

2.3       Theoretical Framework                                                                                               17

2.3.1    Capacity Utilization Theory                                                                                        17

2.4       Literature Review                                                                                                       18

CHAPTER THREE: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION                               22

3.1       Objective 1                                                                                                                  22

CHAPTER FOUR: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS                     30

4.1       Summary                                                                                                                     30

4.2       Recommendations                                                                                                      32

4.3       Conclusion                                                                                                                  31

REFERENCES                                                                                                                      33

APPENDIX                                                                                                                            35

ABSTRACT

            The MM2 airport in Ikeja is the busiest airport within Nigeria and serves as the most important hub in Nigeria’s aviation industry. One key aspect in the management and development of the infrastructure operations is in its passengers patronage, how it attracts and process such an understanding of how these passengers make use of this infrastructure is critical in the management of the airport operation.

            This study investigates a time series analysis of Muritala Muhammed Domestic Airport.

            The study used monthly data on passengers movement at the airport from 2003 to 2015 covering the period of 13 years, time series analysis used include trend, circle and seasonal analysis using Statistical Package for Social Science.

            Findings of the trend analysis showed that in year 2003, the peak period was September while July was the peak period in 2004. August was the peak period for airline passengers movement in year 2005 and 2013, while July was the peak period for passengers movement for 2006. In 2007 and 2008, the peak period for airline passengers movement was August. The trend for October 2009 as shown as the peak period for airline passengers movement while that of 2010 and 2011 was Decembers. In year 2012, the peak period for airline passengers movement was May. April was the peak period for year 2014 while December was the peak period for airline passengers movement for 2015.

            It was concluded the month of August was the peak movement of passengers while the least movement was in February. Hence, the airlines, the manufacturers, the sub-system suppliers, and the national transport planning authority all need forecasts of air transport activity in order to continue to improve airport capacity operation.