Aviation: Local Airfares skyrocket by 100%
Airfares of domestic airlines in Nigeria have skyrocketed by a minimum of 100% owing to the increase in price of aviation fuel by over 100%.
Consequently, passengers in the aviation sector are presently going through difficult times as a one-way economy ticket now sells at over Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000).
This is coming barely less than ten days after the airline operators in Nigeria had warned that the skyrocketing price of aviation fuel by over 100% to about N400 per litre within a year, would lead to increase in the price of tickets in order to sustain their operations.
However, reports suggest the price of aviation fuel increased to between N420 to N450 per litre on Sunday depending on the city, as against the N400 per litre it was on Thursday, without prior notice to the airlines, with a prediction that it could rise to N500 per litre in a few days.
The air passengers have been groaning over the high cost of these airfares, describing the hike as too exorbitant and seeking for government intervention and a downward review.
Meanwhile, the airline operators, under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), in a statement listed some of the operational challenges causing flight delays and cancellations to include unavailability of aviation fuel (Jet A1), the ever-rising cost of aviation fuel and unavailability of forex for spare parts and maintenance.
Others are delays from Customs in the clearing of safety-critical spare parts, poor air traffic flow and inadequate check-in counters.
“Jet A1 today costs above N410 in Lagos, N422 in Abuja and Port Harcourt, and N429 in Kano per litre and has continued to rise fast and steadily.
“On top of the continuous rise in the fuel price, fuel supply is at best epileptic at several airports thereby causing delays,” said the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
They had also condemned attacks on airline staff and facilities at the various airports by passengers over flight delays or cancellations.
Amaka E Nliam/ Nairametrics
