Amid the economic hardship in the country, Air Peace has increased the cost of its one-way flight from Lagos to Abuja to N200,000 beginning November 1, 2024.
The hard economy has had an impact on the aviation industry, prompting airlines to raise fares despite passenger complaints. This change has forced several Nigerians to forego aircraft in favour of road transport.
Checks by our correspondent on airline prices on Monday revealed that Air Peace upped their tickets to N200,000 in November, the highest among domestic airlines.
While Air Peace charges N200,000 or more for a one-way flight from Lagos to Abuja, Aero charges N94,000 to over N109,000, Arik Air charges between N104,405 and N139,292, and Ibom Air charges between N124,000 and over N133,000.
High airfares have recently left many people stranded at airports, unable to get flights to their desired destinations.
The major routes, Lagos-Abuja and Abuja-Lagos, are particularly affected, as many people struggle to acquire seats.
An Air Peace officer who did not want her name published confirmed the development, attributing the increase to Nigeria’s current economic woes.
“If you buy a ticket and see the breakdown, you will discover that we are bleeding as an aviation company, and even the prices of running the business are almost getting out of control.
“Just as we all know, all these killing taxes go to the government, and businesses, especially airlines, have been left with no choice other than to do this; it is what it is.”
Also, efforts to contact the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Toyin Olajide, were futile because she rejected both calls and text messages of inquiry sent to her phone.
According to a businessman, Adeleke Aina, who told our correspondent that he has been travelling by air for years, added that with the rates at which “airfares are skyrocketing by the day without any clear explanation other than economy this, economy that, I will be left with no other option than take road transport as my new meanings of movement.
“This is killing everything; fuel has turned into what it is, and the Federal seems unconcerned with this abnormality. I fear for this country.”
