NEWS
Economy flights price now starts from ₦50,000 – Airlines declare
Major airlines in Nigeria have joined hands to increase the cost of economy flight tickets for domestic routes from about ₦35,000 to a base fare of ₦50,000.
The airlines include Azman Air, Max Air, Ibom Air, Arik Air, Air Peace and Dana Air. TopNaija confirms that most of the airlines have increased their base rate to N50,000 for Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri routes.
For instance, Azman Air and Max Air’s fares for Sunday is N50,000. Ibom Air’s fare is N53,000 while Arik Air, Air Peace and Dana Air fixed above N50,000 for an economy seat.
On the other hand, flights from Lagos to Port Harcourt are pegged at N50, 750 for United Nigeria, N50,000 for Air Peace and N50,250 for Arik Air.
Aero Contractors — which was previously around N30,000 — pegged its fare at N48,365 for Lagos to Abuja while Green Airways Africa — which had a base fare of N22,000 — is now about N33,000 for economy class.
The same base price of N50,000 was fixed for the Lagos to Abuja flights of March 3.
When contacted, Adebanji Ola, public relations and communications manager for Arik Air, directed TheCable to the company’s website for the cost of flights.
He declined to speak further on the matter. Allen Onyema, vice-president of AON and chairman/CEO of Air Peace, did not answer his calls.
In a statement issued last week, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had condemned attacks on airline staff and facilities at the various airports by passengers over flight delays or cancellations.
The association also lamented the high cost of jet A1 fuel, forex scarcity, inflation, increase in ground handling charges, cost of buying and importation of spare parts.
Speaking with aviation correspondents, Obiora Okonkwo, chairman of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), had said the sudden rise in the price of Jet A1 was hurting the operations of airlines.
“The least ticket we sold a year ago was N23, 000 when aviation fuel was N190 and the official rate of naira to a dollar then was N340, but today, if forex is available, it is N450, but when it is not available, the alternative market is N570 to a dollar,” he had said.
A passenger, Solomon, who had budgeted N50, 500 for his Lagos-Benin trip, said he had resolved to go by road. He asked: “How can I pay such an amount from Lagos to Benin? How can I pay double of what I used to pay?” as he sauntered away from the booking counter.”
Francisca, another intending traveller, who came with her three-year-old daughter from Accra, also resolved to go by road to Abuja on hearing the new fares. Mother and daughter were to secure tickets on United Nigeria Airline to Abuja for just N46, 000 on Thursday. She took to her heels, as she was asked to pay N86, 500 for the same flight ticket.
Some of the travel agencies also expressed shock at the hike on most routes. One of the managers, who preferred anonymity, said he was shocked to see the sudden increase in airfares.
“I made a reservation for some people on Air Peace and quoted N27, 500 for a passenger on Thursday, and by Friday morning, all fares had increased to N55, 000. And when I checked other airlines, it was a uniform percentage increase, except Green Africa, which had flexible rates for those travelling with hand luggage.
