Starting November 1, 2024, Air Peace will increase its one-way flight ticket from Lagos to Abuja to N200,000, marking a significant jump in domestic airfare. This sharp rise is linked to Nigeria’s struggling economy, which has had a severe impact on the aviation industry, pushing airlines to hike fares while passengers lament.
The fare increase has driven many Nigerians to opt for road transport, abandoning flights due to the high costs. Checks on Monday revealed that Air Peace’s N200,000 fare is the highest among domestic airlines, with others following closely. Aero’s one-way fares range from N94,000 to N109,000, Arik Air is charging between N104,405 and N139,292, while Ibom Air tickets range from N124,000 to N133,000.
The surge in airfares has left many passengers stranded at airports, particularly on the busy Lagos-Abuja route, where securing a seat has become increasingly difficult.
An Air Peace official, speaking anonymously, attributed the fare hike to the deteriorating economic environment. “If you break down the ticket prices, you will see we are struggling. The cost of doing business has skyrocketed, and airlines are left with no choice but to increase fares,” the official said, highlighting the burden of taxes and operational costs.
Efforts to reach Air Peace’s Chief Operating Officer, Toyin Olajide, for comments were unsuccessful.
Frequent flyer and businessman, Adeleke Aina, expressed his frustration: “With airfares rising every day and no clear explanation other than ‘economy this, economy that,’ I’ll be forced to switch to road transport. This situation is unsustainable, and it feels like the government is turning a blind eye.”
The steep hike in airfares is the latest blow to travelers in Nigeria, as economic challenges continue to ripple across industries, leaving both businesses and consumers grappling with escalating costs.
