As the Easter holiday approaches, air travelers in Rivers, Kano, Enugu, and Ogun states are encountering soaring air ticket prices, according to recent findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The surge in airfares is presenting challenges for passengers seeking to journey within Nigeria during the festive period.
In its latest report on transport fare watch for February 2024, the NBS revealed that passengers flying through these states faced ticket prices ranging between N95,000 and N100,000.
In stark contrast, travelers passing through Abia, Kogi, Abuja, and Plateau states experienced relatively lower airfares, ranging from N80,700 to N70,000 within the same period.
The average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes during February 2024 was N88,000, marking a slight decrease of 2.20 per cent compared to the previous month (January 2024).
However, on a year-on-year basis, airfares witnessed a significant increase of 18.03 per cent from February 2023.
The report also highlighted regional disparities, with the South-West recording the highest fare for air transport in February 2024 at N90,666.67, followed closely by the North-West with N90,500. Conversely, the North-Central region had the lowest average airfare at N83,028.57.
Aviation analyst and Consultant, Sindy Foster, expressed concern over the escalating airfares, stating the urgent need for intervention to alleviate the burden on passengers.
Foster noted the critical relationship between costs, revenue, and profitability within the airline industry, calling for a reevaluation of policies and operational processes to address the current challenges faced by travelers.
