According to research conducted on airline websites and at the domestic terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the starting price for an economy ticket is currently N80,000, with the price going up to approximately N150,000.
On Wednesday, the basic tariff for business class tickets was N110,000. However, due to high demand, the price of the tickets increased to nearly N200, 000 in a matter of hours.
ThisDAY was informed on Wednesday by a protocol official at the domestic terminal, MMA2, that business class tickets are typically approximately N250,000. The unexpected aspect of the huge demand for the tickets was that economy class tickets had already been sold out for the duration of the Yuletide.
“Ticket prices have persisted in rising dramatically. I purchased a business class ticket for N253, 000 on an Ibom Air aircraft to Uyo today for N250, 000 on Air Peace. Ticket prices for business class may range from N96, 000 to N110, 000, with further rises according on demand. However, despite the exorbitant costs, people continue to purchase tickets, travel, and pack the airports. There aren’t enough planes, thus there aren’t enough seats available, which I suppose is the main cause of the price increases,” he remarked.
The protocol officer added that reservations for the majority of flights in December were already sold out.
The starting class for economy is N80,000. There is no more N50,000, and the flights that are available are all booked up as we speak. Our only hope is that airlines will increase the number of flights they operate, but even then, the rates will remain expensive and will only go up. The rates will rise as Christmas gets closer. He stated that places like Enugu and Owerri are already completely reserved.
Results showed that since the majority of tickets are sold in October and November, many domestic airlines would not introduce additional planes only for the holidays.
Because the majority of ticket sales occur in October and November, leasing an aircraft before December will prevent you from breaking even. Airlines in Nigeria actually record their highest sales in November. As a result, in December, you will see flights from Lagos and Abuja to other states, such as Owerri, Enugu, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Uyo, and Calabar, departing full, but arriving back in Lagos empty, operating at less than 40% of capacity, an operator told THISDAY.
Air Peace is the only airline that has the ability to expand its fleet. There are currently roughly 38 aircraft that are airworthy, including eight that are leased, and there is a chance that one or two that are undergoing maintenance will eventually make a comeback.
THISDAY
