Taraba, Kogi and Kebbi States recorded the highest air transport charges for specified routes single journey in April 2022. This was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Transport Fare Watch (April 2022).
According to the report, Taraba recorded the highest air transport charges with N65,000.00, followed by Kogi with N64,258.91 and Kebbi with N60,850. States with the lowest average prices are Kano, Bauchi and Edo with N50,000 each.
Why the surge in airfares?
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), through its Chairman, United Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, said, “Obviously, it is inevitable. I can tell you that all the airline operators, in the last three months, have been losing money, a huge amount of money. There is too much stress on the operational fronts for them to break even.
Even if the aviation fuel is made available, there must be a review to reflect the minimal operational cost. We are offering patriotic services to the nation and understand the essential part of it. We are part of this economic development process in Nigeria but it is coming at a very huge sacrifice.
“Nothing less than N100,000, between N100,000 and N120,000 base price, even with Jet A1 fuel at N400 – N500. That is what it is. In the industry, it is expected that you will gain some here and lose some here but the biggest challenge indigenous operators are having is that the cost of everything is high. You source money from the commercial bank rates. You source money from the black market. No moratorium for your loans and the banks and AMCON are quick to jump on you.”
The Chief Operating Officer, Ibom Air, Mr. George Uriesi, also explained that the local airlines had reached a point in their operational cost to take a drastic measures.
He said, “Something has to give in. It’s either the prices of fuel that come down or the prices of airfares go up from where they are. So far, the airlines have tried very much to work within the airfares as they are. All sides of the divide are aware that the airlines have done the best that they can do.”
