Local airlines in Nigeria have announced significant airfare hikes for the upcoming festive season, even as a pricing dispute with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) continues.
On popular high-traffic routes, ticket prices now range from N143,000 to N314,000 for a one-hour flight, depending on the airline and seat availability.
However, Aero Contractors Airlines is offering a promo fare starting at N80,000 for one-way economy tickets, alongside its “12 Days of Christmas” campaign, which includes additional customer perks.
Premium Pricing for High-Demand Routes
A survey conducted yesterday revealed that flights connecting Lagos and Abuja to Southern and Eastern destinations are nearing full capacity. The few remaining seats are being sold at premium prices.
For instance:
- Air Peace, the country’s largest carrier, offers tickets to destinations like Anambra for N143,000, N162,000, N238,000, N285,800, and N314,000, depending on the travel date.
- United Nigeria Airlines charges N125,500 to N300,000 on the Abuja-Anambra route.
- Ibom Air lists Abuja-Uyo tickets at N152,000, while
- Valujet flights from Lagos to Port Harcourt (December 18-20, 2024) cost N164,761.
Operators Cite Rising Costs
Air Peace COO, Toyin Olajide, attributed the steep fares to high operational costs, especially aviation fuel, which now costs N1,400 per litre.
“For a one-hour flight, we use about 4,000 litres of fuel, costing N7 million for fuel alone. Maintenance costs for leased planes add $4,000 per hour,” Olajide explained.
Despite similar challenges, Aero Contractors is maintaining its promotional offers. Its “12 Days of Christmas” campaign includes interactive social media activities to engage and reward customers, running from December 13 to 24, 2024.
Aero Contractors’ Managing Director, Capt. Ado Sanusi, emphasized the importance of community connection during the holidays:
“This campaign is our way of giving back to our loyal customers and spreading festive cheer.”
Ibom Air Plans Regional Expansion
Meanwhile, Ibom Air has announced plans to add three new Central African destinations in 2025, expanding its regional network beyond its sole intra-African route between Lagos and Accra.
Ibom Air COO, George Uriesi, shared the airline’s strategy to focus on regional connectivity rather than long-haul routes. The new routes will operate as interconnected stops rather than direct flights.
With a fleet of seven CRJ900s and two Airbus A220-300s, Ibom Air is set to transition to an all-A220 fleet by 2028, with nine additional A220-300s on order.
“Our priority is maintaining high load factors and frequencies rather than rapid expansion,” Uriesi said. “We want to strengthen our footprint where demand is strongest.”
Conclusion
As the festive season approaches, the rising airfares have sparked concerns among travelers and regulators alike. While airlines grapple with soaring operational costs, some, like Aero Contractors, are finding creative ways to retain customer loyalty, and others, like Ibom Air, are cautiously expanding their regional presence to address growing demand.
