As the Christmas and New Year festive season draws closer, passengers traveling to the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria are raising concerns over a sharp increase in airfares. Checks across major airlines show that ticket prices on these routes have surged by as much as 131 percent, compared to rates earlier in the year.
Flights from Lagos and Abuja to cities like Enugu, Owerri, Asaba, and Port Harcourt are now selling at record highs, with one-way tickets ranging between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000, depending on the carrier and time of booking. In contrast, the same tickets went for between ₦65,000 and ₦80,000 just months ago.
Many travelers, particularly those returning home for the Yuletide celebrations, have described the development as exploitative and insensitive. Some passengers accused airlines of deliberately inflating fares to take advantage of the high demand during the festive season, when road travel becomes less appealing due to insecurity and congestion.
“This is daylight robbery. Families who planned to reunite this Christmas may have to rethink because these fares are simply unaffordable,” a passenger at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos lamented.
Aviation experts, however, argue that multiple factors contribute to the price hike, including the rising cost of aviation fuel (Jet A1), foreign exchange volatility, and limited availability of aircraft. They note that with the spike in passenger demand during December, airlines adjust fares to balance operating costs with profit margins.
Consumer advocacy groups have urged the Federal Government and aviation regulators to step in and ensure that airlines do not exploit citizens during the festive season. They also stressed the need for improved alternatives, such as functional rail systems, to ease the burden on air travelers.
With less than four months left in 2025, the airfare crisis is expected to remain a burning issue for millions of Nigerians hoping to reunite with loved ones during the holidays.
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