Passengers departing Asaba International Airport will pay an additional N5,000 per trip from December 1, following a regulatory approval that requires the airport operator to justify how the increased revenue is spent.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) raised the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) from N8,000 to N13,000, a 62.5 per cent increase, but attached conditions requiring transparent accounting, non-discriminatory application of the fee and continued regulatory oversight.
In an approval letter dated September 22, 2026, addressed to the Managing Director of Asaba Airport Company Limited, the regulator said it considered the airport’s financial records, operating expenses, investment plans and feedback from stakeholder consultations before authorising the increase.
The letter, signed by Godwin Balang, Director of Airworthiness Standards, on behalf of NCAA Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, followed an application submitted by the airport company in August.
The regulator’s decision places the burden on the airport operator to demonstrate that the additional revenue will support passenger-related facilities and services rather than become an unrestricted source of income.
According to figures submitted by the airport, the cost of providing services covered by the charge rose from approximately N6,251 per passenger in 2023 to N9,096 in 2025. With the charge remaining at N8,000 over the period, the operator reported a shortfall of about N1,096 per departing passenger in 2025.
The airport attributed the rising costs to energy, personnel, training, maintenance and other operational expenses, alongside planned investments in apron rehabilitation, ground power systems, check-in infrastructure, air-conditioning, lifts, toilets and other terminal facilities.
However, the proposed increase had drawn concerns from some airline operators during stakeholder consultations, with warnings that higher airport charges could feed into airfares and weaken passenger demand.
The NCAA said it weighed those concerns against the airport’s financial position and investment requirements before concluding that the review was justified.
Under the conditions attached to the approval, Asaba Airport Company Limited must apply the charge uniformly to all applicable departing passengers and ensure that expenses funded through it are reasonably connected to passenger facilities and services.
The operator must also maintain verifiable financial records and a transparent cost-allocation system, with relevant financial, traffic and operational information available to the NCAA whenever requested.
The regulator further directed that proceeds from the revised charge be used to sustain, maintain and improve the facilities and services associated with it. Airlines, passengers and other affected airport users must receive adequate notice before the new rate takes effect.
The N13,000 charge will also remain subject to continuing economic oversight and periodic review, with the NCAA considering passenger traffic, operating expenses, capital investments, service quality and other relevant economic conditions.
Beyond approving the increase, the regulator urged the airport company to develop alternative revenue sources, including advertising, commercial concessions, parking, property leasing and development, cargo operations and other viable business activities.
It said diversifying revenue would help reduce the airport’s dependence on passenger-related charges and improve its long-term financial sustainability.
With the new rate scheduled to take effect on December 1, passengers face a higher departure cost, while the NCAA’s conditions require the airport operator to demonstrate that the additional payment translates into sustainable facilities and better passenger services.
