….Nigerians Groan as Flight Tickets Hit New Highs
The soaring cost of air travel this yuletide is stirring public outrage, as many Nigerians struggle to afford tickets amid rising delays and flight cancellations.
With complaints mounting, the National Assembly and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC have stepped in, promising to address the crisis.
Our aviation Correspondent Nosa Aituamen examines the spike in fares and the deeper challenges confronting the aviation sector.
Sky-high airfares during the festive season are not new in Nigeria. What is new, however, is the scale of the increase and its impact on passengers.
For many travellers, the burden goes beyond cost. After paying premium fares, uncertainty looms as delays and last-minute cancellations disrupt travel plans.
At the heart of the problem is limited aircraft capacity, stretched even further by the yuletide rush.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Michael Achimugu, describes the situation as troubling, noting that the surge in passenger traffic has exposed longstanding weaknesses in airline operations.
Airline operators, Captain Ado Sanusi and Mr. George Uriesi say capacity constraints, aircraft downtime, and operational pressures are driving the disruptions.
“There are some delays that are beyond the airlines because the airlines are operating in a very harsh environment. The Nigerian airlines collecting in naira and paying in dollars and so, we seem to be in a perpetual survival mood”.
There is cautious optimism that relief may come soon, with assurances that government support to help airlines acquire more aircraft could begin to yield results.
Still, with Christmas and the New Year approaching, fares continue to climb. Airline operator Dr. Obiora Okonkwo points to multiple cost drivers, heavy taxes and charges, volatile exchange rates, limited access to foreign exchange for spare parts, and high maintenance costs.
Passengers ultimately bear the brunt, paying between ₦300,000 and ₦500,000 for one-way tickets on some routes and even more on others.
“Anambra, Enugu port Harcourt N800,000, that N800,000 is when you book early”.
Some travellers allege the hikes are opportunistic, arguing that airlines are cashing in on peak demand to recoup losses from earlier in the year.
But the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, maintains that airfares are largely dictated by market forces.
Lawmakers and industry stakeholders are now pushing for a review of government taxes and charges, hoping it could ease pressure on fares.
As Nigerians count down to the holidays, the big question remains: will policy changes bring real relief, or will festive travel remain a luxury for many? For now, passengers can only wait and watch.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen