Nigerian airline operators say one-way domestic fares should be between N400,000 and N500,000 due to soaring Jet A1 prices, but economic realities have prevented full transfer of costs to passengers.
Nigerian airline operators have said domestic one-way ticket fares should range between N400,000 and N500,000 following a more than 300 per cent increase in the price of aviation fuel, though economic realities have made such pricing impracticable. Operators under the Airline Operators of Nigeria said Jet A1, which sold for about N900 per litre before the Iran conflict, now costs nearly N3,000 per litre, worsening pressure on airlines and forcing schedule reductions amid persistent supply shortages. Despite the spike, one-way Lagos-Abuja tickets still range between N130,000 and N162,000, while business class fares are between N200,000 and N250,000.
A member of the Airline Operators of Nigeria said current ticket prices do not reflect actual operating costs. “On a normal day, if we want to transfer the cost to passengers, which is impracticable, a one-way ticket shouldn’t cost less than N500,000,” the operator said, adding, “What this means is that you cannot break even on any flight with a litre of fuel sold at almost N3000.” Operators said aviation fuel, which already accounts for more than 40 per cent of airline operating costs, now consumes an even larger share, pushing carriers to the brink amid global supply challenges and mounting domestic pressures.
Ibom Air also highlighted the scale of the crisis, revealing that fueling a single flight rose from an average of N2.1 million in January to about N7.6 million as of April 26, representing a more than 350 per cent increase in seven weeks. “From an average of N2.1m per flight in January, as at today, the 26th of April, we are paying approximately N7.6m to fuel every flight. This is a more than 350% increase since the beginning of March, a space of just 7 weeks! And our aircraft are some of the most fuel efficient in the domestic market,” the airline said. The development has intensified concerns over the sustainability of domestic operations and renewed fears of further disruptions in the aviation sector.
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