Domestic Airfare Hits N200,000 as Fuel Crisis Bites

Domestic airfares in Nigeria have surged to N200,000 and above for a one-hour one-way flight, following the sustained high cost of aviation fuel.

Checks on airline websites showed that several carriers had quietly increased ticket prices without official announcements. Aviation fuel currently sells for between N1,750 and N2,650 per litre, depending on the delivery location.

Airline operators had repeatedly warned that the soaring cost of Jet A1 was becoming unsustainable. One carrier recently revealed it now spends about N7.6 million to fuel a single flight.

Despite promises made to operators by the Federal Government more than three weeks ago, industry sources say no relief has been provided.

The fare increase comes barely 24 hours after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery reduced aviation fuel prices, a development initially welcomed by operators.

On the Ibom Air website, a one-way Lagos-Abuja flight that cost N143,200 as of Wednesday was adjusted to N200,300 from Thursday. Lagos-Port Harcourt flights now go for N181,300.

United Nigeria now charges N231,000 for Abuja-Lagos and N200,000 for Lagos-Abuja, while Air Peace has pegged its Lagos-Abuja fare at N192,600.

Aero Contractors and ValueJet had yet to adjust their prices as of press time, with fares ranging between N118,000 and N147,000.

A source at one of the airlines that increased fares said the decision was painful but inevitable, as operators could no longer absorb losses from fuel prices and foreign exchange challenges. He noted that carriers had been running on loans and could no longer sustain that model.

United Nigeria’s spokesperson confirmed that airlines had been absorbing losses but could no longer continue. Ibom Air said while a fare increase was planned, it had not yet been implemented.

A former rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology suggested that instead of raising baseline fares, airlines should increase the fuel surcharge percentage to be more transparent.