Why Air Ticket is High in Nigeria

An in-motion picture of Ibom Air carrier taking off

Nigeria is one of the countries with low air transport patronage. Only 17% of Nigerian passengers are reportedly carried by air transport in Nigeria. 

Between the years 2008 and 2017, 139 million passengers flew through Nigerian airports. Hundred million out of those were domestic flights, while the remaining 39 million were international flights.

For months now, airline operators in Nigeria, courtesy of some reasons, have been struggling to secure enough foreign exchange to be able to import aviation kerosine.

If you have used a flight recently, you won't argue with me if I say the cost of air travel has skyrocketed in the past few weeks, increasing by over 100% in the past few weeks.

Depending on which airline you're on, and or what destination you are headed to in Nigeria, a domestic air ticket now costs an average of ₦165,000. 

Similarly, international passengers now pay as much as ₦1million for economy, and ₦2million for business class, while some Nigerians now fly to Ghana to connect with foreign, according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Some airlines that couldn't bear the economic shock have begun folding up.

The number of scheduled domestic operators has been reduced to 8 from 10 recently. These include Ibom Air, Air Peace, Arik Air, Max Air, United Nigeria, Overland, Green Africa and Azman Air.

While Dana Air has been suspended by NCAA over safety-related issues, Aero Contractors - Nigeria's oldest operating airline of more than 61 years, grounded operations on June 20, 2022, over maintenance costs concerns, but news has it that the airline is returning soon. Thanks to the recent partnership it reached with UmzaXpress which will see five new aircraft added to its current fleets, most of which are undergoing maintenance.

Reasons for the ongoing hike in airfare include;

#1. The high cost of importing refined aviation kerosine. 

#2. Unfavourable foreign exchange regime in Nigeria.

#3. Failure of federal government/CBN to pay foreign airline operators a sales outstanding of $450 million.

#4. Fewer operational aircraft to handle the surge in air patronage in recent months fuelled by rising insecurity on land.

#5. Astronomical charges by aviation agencies like NCAA and FAAN, and air transport licence renewal costs.

Outside the fact that Nigeria is one among countries with a low propensity to fly, they would've been no better time for Nigerians to travel by air than now, especially as many of our road routes are prone to attacks by armed bandits.

The government should urgently take measures to address #2 and #3 to ensure normalcy in the aviation sector in Nigeria 🇳🇬.

*P.S.* The air ticket prices mentioned above are subject to changes. To know how much ticket costs now, visit wakanow