Nigerian travelers face a severe holiday season crisis as domestic airfares have skyrocketed by more than 100% ahead of Christmas celebrations. The dramatic price surge comes amid a critical shortage of operational aircraft in the country's aviation sector.
Massive Fare Increases Across Popular Routes
Recent checks on airline booking platforms reveal shocking new pricing structures that have left many Nigerians struggling to afford air travel. One-way tickets on key domestic routes now range between N350,000 and N500,000, representing more than double the usual fares charged during non-peak periods.
The Lagos to Enugu route currently commands fares between N350,000 and N400,000 for a single journey. Even the typically competitive Lagos-Abuja corridor has seen massive increases, with tickets now priced from N150,000 to N350,000. Some peak availability tickets on certain routes have reached an astonishing N600,000, placing air travel out of reach for most average income earners.
Christmas Travel Crisis Deepens
Travel industry experts confirm that the situation has reached critical levels, with most airlines already fully booked on high-demand routes from December 20 through early January. Popular destinations including Asaba, Anambra, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Enugu show no available seats during the peak travel period.
Ndukwe Ginika Ogechi, CEO of Geena Travels and Tours Limited, provided sobering insight into the crisis: "Most of the local airlines operating from Lagos to frequently visited destinations during Christmas are already fully booked. The few remaining seats carry exorbitant prices, some reaching N500,000, which exceeds the financial capacity of most Nigerian travelers."
She issued a stark warning that without immediate deployment of additional aircraft before the festive rush intensifies, fares could climb even higher, potentially stranding thousands of intended travelers.
Aircraft Shortage Reaches Critical Levels
The root cause of the fare explosion lies in Nigeria's rapidly diminishing aircraft fleet. Industry stakeholders have raised consistent concerns over the past two years about passenger congestion resulting from the shrinking number of operational planes.
Charles Grant, CFO of Aero Contractors, revealed the severity of the situation: "Today, most Nigerian airlines operate with just four to six active aircraft, despite the substantial national demand. This limited operation doesn't reflect business choice but rather punitive economic realities."
The fleet crisis has multiple origins. Airlines that sent aircraft abroad for maintenance face significant challenges in retrieving them due to escalating foreign exchange costs. Simultaneously, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded additional aircraft due to maintenance access issues.
The statistical decline paints a worrying picture. Six years ago, Nigeria's ten domestic airlines operated over 120 aircraft. Recent NCAA data shows only 91 aircraft in the country, including those undergoing maintenance procedures.
Industry Response and Long-term Solutions
Aviation experts predict that the combination of limited aircraft availability and heightened seasonal demand will inevitably lead to increased flight delays and cancellations throughout the festive period.
In response to the maintenance challenges contributing to the aircraft shortage, Air Peace has announced ambitious plans to construct a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos. The project, scheduled for completion within 12 to 18 months, aims to revolutionize aircraft servicing in Nigeria by eliminating the need for airlines to send jets abroad for expensive repairs.
As the Christmas season approaches, Nigerian travelers face difficult choices between paying unprecedented airfares, enduring potentially dangerous road journeys, or canceling travel plans altogether. The situation highlights urgent systemic issues within Nigeria's aviation industry that require immediate government and private sector attention.
