Average price tickets to travel across Nigeria have seen a surge with some destinations reaching over N96,000 for a one-way journey.
Airlines charged passengers an average of N97,500 to travel to Port Harcourt International Airport making it the most expensive destination by Air.
To travel to states like Kano, passengers pay over N96,433, according to the National Bureau of Statistics report for June 2024.
Travellers to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, passengers paid N95,166, an amount which is the cheapest that airlines charge.
Air passengers travelling to Ibadan Airport, Oyo State, Maiduguri International Airport, Borno State and Kaduna International Airport, airlines are charged N93,720, N93,666 and N93,500 respectively.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos which is the country’s busiest airport costs passengers an average of N91,500 for a one-way ticket.
The Chairman of the United Nigerian Airlines and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Prof Obiora Okonkwo, said aircraft shortages are responsible for the high cost of air tickets.
Okonkwo said, “What you have seen happening in recent times is just my prediction happening. Sometimes, when there were skyrocketing prices of aviation fuel and foreign exchange, I said it would result in a situation when there would be more aircraft on the ground than those flying because accessing funds to maintain them will be difficult and it becomes an issue of demand and supply.
“We now have fewer aircraft to service the larger number of people who are flying. You will bring the pressure to the cost. However, I can also assure you that we have been as reasonable as possible in the cost because, in aviation, it is not what you sell a single ticket that brings your profit.
Okonkwo advised passengers to make proper travel arrangements and book ahead of time if they want a cheaper price.