Travellers Panic over Imminent Outrageous Airfares as Christmas Approaches

Airlines in Nigeria are set to introduce high airfares as the Christmas holiday season approaches, causing panic among domestic air travellers. This annual price surge has become a common occurrence, with domestic airlines increasing ticket costs for destinations like Port Harcourt, Benin, Calabar, Owerri, Enugu, Warri, Asaba, Anambra, Akure, and Ibadan. This rise in prices is predominantly due to increased demand during the festive season, as more Nigerians travel home to celebrate with their families.

On one-way economy tickets from Lagos to various South East destinations, fares have reached as high as N499,998 in 2025 and N450,000 to N500,000 in 2024. These high costs have led to complaints from travellers, who are puzzled by the exorbitant rates. Airlines claim that the high prices are simply a result of the laws of demand and supply.

However, the influx of new airlines since 2024, including Enugu Air, Binani Air, 3 Horizons Nigeria Limited, and MCM Jets Limited, may provide more competition and potentially reduce fares.

Industry experts, such as Capt. Samuel Caulcrick and Olu Fidel Ohunayo, argue that while increased competition from new airlines might drive prices down, Nigeria's high operational costs, crushing system costs, and scarcity of foreign exchange make it unlikely for airlines to significantly reduce prices during the Christmas season. Furthermore, the imbalance in passenger traffic, with more inbound flights than outbound, further justifies the high airfares during this period.