Nigerian airlines have increased the cost of economy flight tickets for domestic routes from about N35,000 to a base fare of N50000, TheCable understands.
The airlines include Azman Air, Max Air, Ibom Air, Arik Air, Air Peace and Dana Air.
In a statement issued last week, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) condemned attacks on airline staff and facilities at the various airports by passengers over flight delays or cancellations, saying they will no longer allow the attacks to go on unrestrained.
The association also lamented the high cost of jet A1 fuel, forex scarcity, inflation, increase in ground handling charges, cost of buying and importation of spare parts.
Findings by TheCable showed that most of the airlines have increased their base rate to N50,000 for Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri routes.
For instance, Azman Air and Max Air for Sunday go for N50,000. Ibom Air for the day costs N53,000 while Arik Air, Air Peace and Dana Air fixed above N50,000 for an economy seat.
On the other hand, flights from Lagos to Port Harcourt is pegged at N50, 750 for United Nigeria, Air Peace N50,000 and Arik Air at N50,250.
Aero Contractors — which used to be about N30,000 — placed its airfare for N48,365 for Lagos to Abuja while Green Airways Africa — which had a base fare of N22,000 –is now about N33,000 for economy class.
The same base price of N50,000 was fixed for Lagos to Abuja flight of March 3.
When contacted, Adebanji Ola, public relations and communications manager for Arik Air, directed TheCable to the company’s website for the cost of flights.
He declined to speak further on the matter.
Allen Onyema, vice-president of AON and chairman/CEO of Air Peace, did not answer his calls.
Speaking with aviation correspondents last week, Obiora Okonkwo, chairman of Nigeria Airlines (UNA), had said the sudden rise in the price of Jet A1 hurt the operations of airlines.
“The least ticket we sold a year ago was N23, 000 when aviation fuel was N190 and the official rate of naira to a dollar then was N340, but today, if forex is available, it is N450, but when it is not available, the alternative market is N570 to a dollar,” he had said.
