For Nigerians planning to travel home for Christmas, the cost of reuniting with family is rising sharply, with economy airfares on some domestic routes climbing to nearly three times their November rates as airlines position for the December travel rush.
A survey of airline booking platforms has shown that one-way tickets from Lagos and Abuja to major South-East and South-South destinations are now selling for between N196,000 and N337,500 for December 20 and 21 flights, raising fresh concerns about the affordability of festive travel.
The steepest increases are being recorded on routes connecting Lagos and Abuja to Asaba, Enugu, Benin City and other destinations, placing additional financial pressure on passengers who depend on air transport to avoid the long journeys and road safety risks associated with festive-season travel.
On the Lagos-Asaba route, Air Peace’s economy fare rose from N118,400 for November 9 to N337,500 for December 21, an increase of approximately 185 per cent.
Its Abuja-Enugu service also recorded a substantial increase, with fares moving from N116,400 in November to N335,500 for December 21, representing a rise of about 188 per cent.
United Nigeria Airlines recorded a similar trend on the Lagos-Benin route, where economy tickets increased from N120,000 to N310,500, representing approximately 159 per cent.
Aero Contractors’ Lagos-Asaba fare climbed from N106,286 to N327,940 for December 20, an increase of about 208 per cent.
The increases, however, are not uniform across all routes. Ibom Air’s Lagos-Uyo economy fare moved from N143,200 in November to N200,300 for December 21, representing an increase of approximately 40 per cent.
The rising fares have revived concerns about the growing cost of domestic aviation during peak travel periods, particularly for Nigerians who consider Christmas an important opportunity to return to their communities and reunite with relatives.
The latest development also reopens the debate over airline pricing practices, following the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) criticism of unusually high domestic fares during the 2025 Christmas period.
In January, the commission disclosed that its preliminary investigations had identified fares reaching between N405,000 and N600,000 during the previous festive season, raising concerns about possible price-fixing among indigenous operators.
However, aviation analyst Chris Amokwu attributed the increases largely to the difficult operating environment confronting domestic airlines.
He identified foreign exchange volatility, rising aviation fuel costs, multiple taxation and inadequate airport infrastructure as major pressures on airline operations.
According to him, although airlines generate most of their revenue in naira, substantial expenses associated with aircraft leasing, maintenance, insurance and spare parts are denominated in foreign currencies.
Meanwhile, efforts to expand domestic aviation capacity have received attention in Edo State, where Governor Monday Okpebholo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Express Airline Co. Ltd and KDN Aero for the establishment of a state-owned carrier, Edo Air.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at Government House, Benin City, Okpebholo expressed confidence in the proposed partnership, saying the airline would commence operations soon.
The agreement, signed with representatives of the Chinese aviation company led by its president, Shansheng Li, is expected to form the basis of a longer-term relationship between the parties.
KDN Aero Managing Director, Tianzhi Chen, presented the governor with a model aircraft after outlining the Chinese delegation’s operational capacity.
However, the proposed Edo Air initiative comes against the backdrop of broader challenges facing domestic aviation, where the cost of operating aircraft, route sustainability and access to affordable tickets remain critical industry concerns.
For passengers preparing for the Christmas journey, the immediate concern remains the widening gap between ordinary travel costs and festive-season fares, with the traditional homecoming increasingly becoming an expensive undertaking.
