Major Nigerian domestic carriers have implemented significant fare increases on key routes ahead of the Christmas travel season, with return tickets to popular destinations now reaching as high as N800,000.
Massive Price Surge on South-East and South-South Routes
Leading airlines including Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, and Aero Contractors have sharply raised airfares on high-demand routes to the South-East and South-South regions. These routes typically handle nearly 90% of passenger traffic during the festive period.
According to recent checks, Air Peace has set the price of a return ticket from Lagos to Asaba at N715,000 for travel dates of December 26, 2025, with return on January 4, 2026. A similar journey with Aero Contractors is priced at N501,000.
For other critical destinations such as Owerri, Uyo, Enugu, Anambra, Port Harcourt, and Calabar, return fares now range between N700,000 and N800,000, depending on the booking date. Even short-haul flights are experiencing unprecedented pricing, with 40-minute flights from Lagos to Benin or Asaba now attracting fares previously seen only on long-haul trips.
Aircraft Shortage Crisis Drives Price Hikes
Industry experts attribute the dramatic fare increases to a severe shortage of operational aircraft in the country. Data from CH-Aviation reveals that Nigeria currently has 123 registered aircraft, of which 79 are grounded, leaving only 44 active planes for domestic operations.
The high grounding rate of 64.2% has created a significant capacity gap that is directly impacting domestic fares. Multiple airlines have aircraft undergoing maintenance overseas, with Air Peace alone reported to have four leased aircraft withdrawn and thirteen others undergoing maintenance abroad.
Although Air Peace recently added a B737-800 on dry lease, industry sources indicate this is insufficient to close the emerging capacity gap. Several additional planes across various airlines remain grounded as Aircraft on Ground (AOG), further exacerbating the situation.
Industry Experts Explain Market Dynamics
Yinka Afolami, President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA), confirmed that the price increase is entirely due to capacity shortages combined with massive festive demand.
Daisi Olotu, Chairman of Dees Travels and Tours Investment Limited, provided additional context, noting that many travellers booked far in advance, limiting the availability of lower-priced tickets. He emphasized that the main challenge is operational, with airlines operating below required fleet capacity.
When aircraft become AOG, schedules collapse, leading to widespread cancellations and delays that further strain the already limited capacity during peak travel season.
The fare increases come as air travel has become an increasingly popular choice for Nigerians seeking to avoid rising insecurity on road transportation networks during the holiday period.
