Finchglow Marks 20 Years as Industry Anchor, Calls for Stronger Support for Nigeria’s Travel Trade
Nigeria’s travel industry must confront deep structural gaps threatening its growth, according to Finchglow Travels, which has marked its 20th anniversary with a call for wider recognition of the role consolidators play in sustaining the aviation and travel ecosystem.
In a statement issued in Lagos, the company said the country’s travel sector handles millions of passengers yearly, yet the infrastructure underpinning ticket distribution, pricing stability, and agency competitiveness remains largely invisible, underfunded, and often misunderstood. It warned that the mismatch between demand and system capacity carries tangible costs for airlines, agents, and travellers alike.
The firm explained that for two decades it has functioned as a stabilising intermediary between airlines and travel agents, aggregating ticket inventory, negotiating exclusive contracted fares, and absorbing foreign-exchange volatility that might otherwise cripple smaller agencies.
Such consolidators, it noted, are widely understood in mature aviation markets but remain poorly appreciated within Nigeria, leaving the sector vulnerable to fragmentation.
Managing Director Ezekiel Ikotun stressed that industry education remains central to closing that knowledge gap. He said the company’s objective is not merely ticket sales but equipping travel professionals with tools and insights that allow them to compete globally.
According to him, consolidators transform travel distribution into opportunities for savings, innovation, and operational efficiency.
The anniversary comes at a turbulent period for Nigerian aviation, characterised by currency instability, unpredictable fare pricing, and mounting operating pressures.
The company said these conditions have tightened margins across the sector, leaving many travel agencies grappling with staffing shortages, limited access to capital, and widening digital capability gaps. International airlines, it added, continue to reassess their Nigerian operations in light of broader global route strategies.
Group Managing Director of Finchglow Holdings, Bankole Bernard, warned that fare volatility is largely driven by macroeconomic factors, especially foreign-exchange uncertainty.
He cautioned that many industry operators are financially exposed, noting that a single difficult quarter could destabilise businesses already operating on slim margins.
To cushion these pressures, the company said it has adopted structural solutions, including dual-currency settlement arrangements with airline partners.
By leveraging dollar inflows from corporate clients, it allows affiliated agents to transact in naira while it manages the underlying foreign-currency obligations – a mechanism it says has prevented forex exposure from forcing smaller agencies out of business.
Beyond financial buffers, Finchglow highlighted its investment in industry capacity building. Over the past year it hosted multiple live events, webinars, and training sessions designed to strengthen professional knowledge among Nigerian travel agents, with plans to expand the initiative nationwide in 2026. It also publishes regular industry intelligence updates intended to improve decision-making across the travel trade.
The company argued that longevity in Nigeria’s volatile aviation landscape reflects adaptability and resilience rather than chance. Over two decades, it has operated through regulatory changes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and currency shocks that reshaped the economics of international travel.
Bernard reiterated the need for stronger government engagement, particularly in addressing regulatory inconsistencies and boosting investment in aviation infrastructure such as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities. Such measures, he said, are critical to reducing capital flight and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness within regional aviation.
As it enters its third decade, Finchglow said its focus will remain on strengthening the foundations of the travel ecosystem from behind the scenes. The company maintains that a well-informed, properly resourced travel trade is not optional but essential to the sustainability and growth of Nigeria’s aviation and tourism sectors.
