Consequently, many Nigerians have been compelled to cancel their Christmas travel plans, with some opting for road travel as a more economical alternative.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the average airfare for popular routes, such as Lagos to Abuja, was N89,888 in June 2024. By December, this figure had escalated to N285,000, marking a significant 218 percent rise within just six months.
One major airline initially listed a one-way economy ticket for the Abuja-Owerri route at N143,000 for December 20, 2024, but the price later soared to ₦285,800.
Similarly, the Abuja-Port Harcourt route has seen substantial fare increases, with a major airline charging ₦285,800 for an economy ticket for the same date.
BusinessDay reported that some airlines are currently charging between N114,000 and N220,000 for the Abuja-Lagos route for December 20, but these prices are expected to surpass N285,000 in the near future, according to industry experts.
For flights from Abuja to Port Harcourt on December 20, some airlines have set prices at ₦237,714, while others are charging between N190,095 and N210,000 for trips scheduled between December 17 and 19, 2024.
Impact on Passengers
The dramatic rise in ticket prices has left passengers struggling with the high costs of air travel, particularly as the holiday season amplifies demand. Increased operational costs and security concerns in certain areas have further exacerbated the situation, rendering domestic air travel unaffordable for many Nigerians.
This surge in airfares coincides with the holiday season, a peak time for domestic flights, as numerous Nigerians prepare for Christmas and New Year festivities. This price escalation is likely to impose considerable financial pressure on travelers planning to fly at the year's end.
Ms. Mabel Wuku, a civil servant residing in Abuja, reported that her son's wedding in Kano this weekend necessitated an airfare of ₦95,000 due to prevailing road conditions and security concerns, exceeding half her monthly salary, whereas bus travel would typically cost ₦12,000.
Ms. Ezenwa Joshua, a mother of three, voiced her apprehension regarding the cost and safety of the proposed travel arrangements, citing the perilous condition of Nigerian roads and the unacceptable risk of kidnapping. She firmly stated her unwillingness to pay any ransom.
Mr. Joseph Egbe, a passenger experiencing travel challenges, voiced concerns regarding the government's inaction on escalating airfare costs, emphasizing the importance of affordable and efficient air travel. He stated that air travel offers superior safety and speed, enabling passengers to reach their destination within an hour; however, the current high fares are a significant deterrent to air travel.
Impact of Exchange Rates
Regarding airfare costs, Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, noted that the exchange rate affects all facets of aviation, including essential maintenance tasks like changing a tire bolt.
Keyamo mentioned that the government aims to lower ticket prices by assisting domestic airlines in acquiring aircraft at more favorable rates.
“Our goal is to connect them with global markets where they can obtain aircraft under advantageous conditions. This will positively influence ticket prices and operational costs,” he stated.
Nigerians Abroad Take Advantage of Weaker Naira
In the meantime, Nigerians living abroad are capitalizing on the weaker naira to travel to Nigeria for Christmas, as flights from Europe, London, and the United States are fully booked.
Additionally, some airlines have increased their capacity to accommodate the surge in air travelers this Christmas season.
Delta Air Lines has launched daily nonstop flights on its New York JFK to Lagos route, commencing in December 2024 and continuing through February 2025.
During this timeframe, Delta upgraded its aircraft from the Airbus A330-200, which has a capacity of 223 passengers, to the larger Airbus A330-900neo, which can accommodate 281 passengers.
Ms. Mary Gbobaniyi, Delta's West Africa Sales Director, expressed her enthusiastic support for this development, stating, "This is a significant and welcome development. The timing of this increase in Nigerian market flights is ideal. Enhanced capacity and the introduction of larger aircraft will provide our customers with expanded options and an improved travel experience."
In addition, United Airlines has expanded its service between Lagos and Washington D.C. from three times a week to daily flights, effective from December 4, 2024, to February 14, 2025. This change represents a 133 percent increase in available seats compared to the previous year.
This marks the first instance of United operating daily flights on this route, which remains the only nighttime departure from Lagos to the United States.
Ms. Susan Akporaiye, Managing Director and CEO of Topaz Travels and Tours, reports that all flights to Nigeria from Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States are fully booked this December due to a high volume of Nigerian citizens returning home for the holidays. December is a particularly popular month for weddings, maximizing family attendance.
Akporaiye, a former president of NANTA, informed BusinessDay that the largest populations of Nigerians abroad are in London, the USA, and Europe, while the Nigerian community in Canada, although growing, does not compare in size to those in London and the United States.
She explained that this demand is why flights from Europe and London are fully booked during this period. However, she mentioned that the current exchange rate has led some airlines to restrict Nigerian travel agents from issuing tickets in naira.
In previous years, Nigerian travel agencies saw significant sales during periods of high traffic. Unfortunately, this year, despite flights being fully booked, ticket sales are occurring primarily outside Nigeria.
Previously, purchasing tickets from Nigeria was more economical. Although there remains substantial traffic into Nigeria, this does not benefit travel agents due to the unfavorable exchange rates, as noted by Akporaiye.
For instance, an economy class one-way ticket from Heathrow Airport in London to Lagos, which was priced between N800,000 and N1.3 million around eight months ago, now averages N2.65 million on Egypt Air, N3 million on RwandAir, N3.25 million on Turkish Airlines, N3.5 million on Emirates, KLM, and Air France, N3.7 million on Lufthansa, and N3.9 million on Qatar Airways.
For airlines like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which offer direct flights from London to Lagos, ticket prices are approximately N4.2 million and N4.6 million, respectively.
Mr. Yinka Folami, CEO of Travel and Logistics Centre Ltd. and current NANTA president, noted the consistent return of Nigerians from abroad each December, highlighting the enduring strength of their national ties. This period represents peak travel season for airlines, resulting in substantially elevated ticket prices.