For an airline to succeed and become profitable, it must choose the right aircraft for the routes it flies in terms of passenger traffic, fuel efficiency and profitability.

This was disclosed by the Embraer Customer Service Manager for Africa and Middle East, Mr. Debo Adewolu, at the Fireside Chat with African Aviators, held recently in Lagos.

Adewolu said that an airline choosing the right aircraft is important because it determines to a large extent whether it will operate profitably or it will go under over time because choice of aircraft is very critical to the success of an airline.

"For example, it will be profitable to operate a 50-passenger than 120- passenger capacity aircraft for a route like Lagos to Warri, where passenger turnout may hover around 35 to 50 persons per flight," he said.

This, he said, will save the airline money in terms of fuelling the aircraft and total operations cost because with 35 passengers, a 50-passenger plane has made profit on the route, while for a 120-passenger capacity aircraft, that is a huge loss to the airline.

He said that for African airlines to succeed in the foreseeable future, there must be improved regional connectivity, noting that a market as big as Nigeria still struggles as a transit airport, adding that aircraft maintenance capabilities is still a major issue as many airlines still need to ferry aircraft around the continent for basic maintenance.