By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
The steep rise in domestic airfares in Nigeria, with one-way tickets now exceeding ₦200,000, has led many Nigerians to abandon air travel. Popular routes like Lagos to Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Owerri have seen drastic price increases, with some tickets costing as much as ₦650,000.
Frequent travelers are feeling the impact, with businessperson Musa Iyal stating, “A one-way ticket from Kano to Lagos was priced at ₦230,000, which would erode my business profits.” The surge in ticket prices is linked to the scarcity of foreign exchange, high maintenance costs, and the grounding of airlines such as Dana Air. As fewer aircraft are available, competition on certain routes has diminished, creating a virtual monopoly.
Patience Kofo, a frequent traveler, shared her frustration: “I used to spend between ₦500,000 to ₦600,000 on return tickets, but now it costs over ₦1.5 million.” With air travel becoming a luxury reserved for the wealthy, many Nigerians are now opting for alternative transportation methods. The aviation industry’s current challenges have pushed passengers to explore cheaper options.
Source: Chrysora News
