Domestic airfares rise by 57% during Ramadan —Expert

•Projects some routes could hit N1m by December 2026

Domestic airfares in Nigeria surged by between 10 percent and 57 percent during the Ramadan period, depending on route and booking window, an aviation expert has said, citing rising jet fuel costs and strong travel demand as key drivers.

An air travel agent, Blessing Ugoala, disclosed this in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, noting that while moderate increases hovered around 10 to 15 percent, some routes recorded significantly higher spikes.

“Some airlines have raised fares within the 10 to 15 percent range due to rising fuel costs and increased demand,” she said. “However, across the market, increases of between 15 percent and 57 percent have been observed depending on the route and timing of booking.”

She added that in extreme cases, particularly for last-minute bookings or high-demand routes, ticket prices have nearly doubled.

Ugoala attributed the trend largely to the rising cost of Jet A1 fuel, which typically accounts for between 25 and 35 percent of airline operating expenses, alongside limited flight capacity and seasonal travel pressure during Ramadan.

“The combination of higher fuel prices, surging passenger demand and constrained seat capacity has forced airlines to introduce additional surcharges to remain operational,” she explained.

Findings by the Nigerian Tribune show that the upward trajectory in ticket prices predates the Ramadan period, with fares already climbing sharply toward the end of 2025. One-way tickets on major routes such as Lagos–Abuja and Lagos–Sokoto exceeded ₦150,000 and ₦300,000, respectively, representing increases of up to 150 percent compared to previous years.

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On average, fares on the busy Abuja–Lagos corridor currently range between ₦125,000 and ₦250,000, reflecting sustained pricing pressure driven by operational costs and high passenger volumes.

Air travellers have expressed growing concern over the rising cost of domestic flights. A passenger, Joseph Wada, lamented that air travel is increasingly becoming unaffordable for many Nigerians.

“The way things are going, if my trip is not urgent, I would rather travel by road than pay ₦200,000 or ₦250,000 for a one-way ticket,” he said.

Further analysis indicates that fares surged by as much as 150 percent during peak festive periods in late 2025, especially on routes to the South-South and South-East regions. Ticket prices frequently exceeded ₦300,000, up from an earlier average of about ₦120,000.

Industry data attributes the spike to multiple factors, including the sharp rise in global aviation fuel prices, foreign exchange volatility, and strong seasonal demand.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) fuel price monitor, global jet fuel prices climbed to approximately $175 per barrel amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

In Nigeria, the impact has been more pronounced, with Jet A1 prices surging by between 80 percent and 100 percent within weeks—rising from about ₦1,000 per litre to over ₦1,800, and in some cases reaching ₦2,200 per litre.

Analysts say the cost pressures have significantly strained airline operations, forcing carriers to pass on expenses to passengers through higher fares and fuel surcharges.

Looking ahead, Ugoala projected that if current trends persist, ticket prices on some domestic routes could approach ₦1 million by December 2026, particularly during peak travel periods and on high-demand routes.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has introduced measures aimed at easing the burden on travellers. Among them is the recently launched “Fly Now, Pay Later” scheme by the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), in partnership with MyVisaro and Alert Microfinance Bank.

The initiative allows passengers to pay an initial 30 percent of ticket costs and spread the balance over three months, improving short-term affordability.

Other policy efforts include ongoing negotiations with airlines, plans to deepen competition in the aviation sector, implementation of the Cape Town Convention to reduce aircraft leasing costs, and a proposed 50 percent reduction in airport charges.

However, industry observers note that while such interventions may improve access to air travel, they do not directly address the underlying cost drivers pushing fares upward.

Experts also point out that seasonal spikes in airfares remain a recurring pattern in Nigeria, with demand and limited capacity consistently driving price increases during festive and religious periods.