The President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria (AOPAN), Dr. Alex Nwuba, has explained the factors behind the sharp increase in domestic airfares, which have climbed as high as N700,000 for a one-way ticket.
In an interview on Arise Television, Nwuba said the spike is largely driven by heightened demand during the festive season and airlines’ attempts to recover losses from cheaper fares offered during low-traffic periods.
He stressed that the surge is a yearly trend.
“It’s not new. Every year, prices go up at Christmas time—it’s simply the forces of economics at play,” Nwuba said. “The rise is demand driven and also serves as compensation for low fares during the low season.”
According to him, airfares are likely to drop next year as the federal government has pledged to reduce aviation-related taxes and charges.
The development comes as the Nigerian Senate recently demanded an immediate suspension of the airfare hike after ticket prices soared to N700,000. Lawmakers also summoned the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and key stakeholders for an urgent briefing following public outrage over the increases.
