Air passengers heading to the Southeastern part of Nigeria during the Christmas and New Year period are facing exorbitant airfares, with return tickets exceeding N500,000.
While routes like Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-Port Harcourt, and Lagos-Uyo maintain regular fares, the Southeastern routes have experienced a significant spike.
Return tickets from Lagos to Anambra on Air Peace cost N533,600, while Lagos-Enugu and Lagos-Owerri return tickets are priced at N343,200 and N533,600, respectively. United Nigeria Airlines charges N441,000 for Abuja-Anambra, N520,500 for Lagos-Anambra, and N441,000 for Lagos-Owerri. Dana Air, which operates only in Owerri in the Southeast, has set its return ticket price at N400,000.
Despite the astronomical increase, airlines have reportedly sold out their seats for the festive season. Stakeholders attribute the surge to inflation, foreign exchange fluctuations, airlines’ trapped funds, and the rise in jet fuel costs.
Olumide Ohunayo, the Secretary-General of Aviation Round Table Initiative (ARTI), justified the current fares, citing global trends where demand and the time of ticket purchase influence prices.
He suggested encouraging more airlines to obtain wet-lease aircraft for busy routes during peak periods.
Former Commandant of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), noted that aviation services’ cost is globally rated against the dollar and reflects the nation’s economic reality.
Ojikutu advised the government to categorize airports and enforce compulsory deposit of forex charges into a domiciliary account, aligning with the economic situation.
As the festive season approaches, passengers are urged to plan ahead to mitigate the impact of high ticket prices.
