The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that domestic airfares on specified routes in the country rose by 57.81 per cent in one year.
This was contained in its Transport Fare Watch for September 2024.
According to the report, domestic airfares for a single journey rose from N79,013.48 in September 2023 to N124,693.40 in September 2024.
On a month-to-month basis, fares saw a slight 0.80 per cent increase compared to August 2024, suggesting stability in price adjustments.
“In air travel, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey was N124,693.40 in September 2024, showing an increase of 0.80% while compared to the previous month (August 2024). On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 57.81% from N79,013.48 in September 2023,” the NBS report stated in part.
The report emphasised an upward trend driven by increased demand and ongoing challenges, such as currency fluctuations and rising fuel prices. Seasonal variations and limited infrastructural upgrades further contributed to this surge in air travel costs across Nigeria.
Details of the NBS report further showed that the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) recorded the highest average airfare at N129,600, followed by Anambra, with fares averaging N129,045 and Oyo at N128,928.
Conversely, Zamfara had the lowest airfare average at N96,969, followed by Ekiti at N120,555.37 and Kano at N121,626.57.
Regionally, the South-West geopolitical zone experienced the highest average airfare across all six zones, with prices reaching N126,013.30 in September 2024. This price represented a 1.81 per cent month-on-month increase and a substantial 59.82 per cent rise from September 2023 levels.
The South-East had an average fare of N125,881.64, marking a 60.95 per cent year-on-year increase from N78,213.19 recorded in September 2023, along with a modest 0.19 per cent monthly increase from August 2024.
The North-West zone recorded the lowest average airfare among the zones, with an average of N120,731.25 in September 2024.
This represented a monthly rise of 1.01 per cent and a 52.59 per cent increase from September 2023.
