Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was a beehive of activities on Thursday as passengers tried to travel for the Easter celebrations.

The Federal Government had declared Friday and Monday public holidays for Easter celebrations.

NAN reports that there was heavy traffic in the departure hall and the booking points of the domestic wing of the airport.

NAN also observed that some passengers were stranded as there were no available flights for them to travel to their destinations.

An official of the airport, who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said all flights for Thursday were fully booked and that there was no more available flight for the day.

The official said that the upsurge was as a result of the long holiday.

Mr Saroke Abdullahi, Deputy Station Manager, Azman Airlines, said there was an upsurge in passenger turnout and that all domestic flights for Thursday were fully booked by Wednesday.

Abdullahi said that flights to Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt were the most patronised.

He also said the traffic upsurge had forced many airlines to sell tickets at their last prices and emphasised that there was no fare hike.

According to him, every airline has lower and higher prices for tickets.

He said travellers who bought tickets early were likely to enjoy lower prices.

“During rush periods like this, airlines sell their tickets at their last prices which is usually higher than the normal period but that does not necessarily mean fare hike.”

A traveller, Mr Saleh Magaji, told NAN that he was stranded because he could not get a flight to Kano.

Magaji said he did not expect the increase in passenger traffic considering the harsh economic situation in the country; otherwise he would have booked before Thursday.

He said he wanted to use the opportunity of the long holiday to travel to Kano to spend time with his family.

Another traveller, Mr Joe Maduka, said he had rescheduled his trip to Port Harcourt since he could not get any flight for Thursday.

Maduka called on all Christians to use the Easter celebration to pray for the economic turnaround of the country. (NAN)

•Photo shows Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.