The House of Representatives on Thursday, charged its aviation committee with investigating the increase in international flight fares and poor service delivery by foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.
This, it stated, was to curb unwholesome airline practices and guarantee that flying fares were comparable to those of surrounding countries.
The resolution of the house followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Curtail Exorbitant Airfares by International Airlines in Nigeria,” moved by Moshood Olarewaju Oshun.
Oshun moved the motion, noting that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, or NCAA, revealed that sixteen international airlines were operating in Nigeria as of 2022.
He also stated that international passenger traffic had increased dramatically from 3,503,692 in 2022 to 3,503,692 in 2023 and had continued to expand fast, particularly with outbound foreign visitors.
According to him, multinational airlines are abusing the growth in international passenger traffic by charging outrageous prices for flights and profiting from Nigeria.
The lawmaker went on to say that when compared to other West African countries like Ghana, Benin Republic, and Niger Republic, the rates set by international airlines operating in Nigeria were outrageous, despite poor service delivery and the airlines’ use of old aircraft, compared to what was available in other countries.
He claims that Turkish Airlines charges up to $3,538 (N2.7 million) for a Lagos-London flight, with the lowest advertised fare being $1,432 (N1.1 million), whereas the same airline charges between $475 (N368,837) and $601 (N466,676) for a London-bound flight from Cotonou, which is a huge and unfair contrast to what people were forced to pay in Nigeria.
He raised concern that other foreign airlines operating in Nigeria were also complicit in the unfair increase in flight fares for inbound and outbound international flights, putting Nigeria at a competitive disadvantage economically.
He stated that if rigorous measures were not put in place to curb the obvious increase in flight rates by international airlines, Nigerians may no longer be able to afford overseas travel, and the nation’s economy may suffer as a result of such unwholesome practices.
He did, however, point out that Nigeria has the world’s highest navigational, enroute, parking, and other fees, as well as aviation fuel prices.
