'No More N51k' - Airline operators say Lagos-Abuja flight should be N250,000 due to naira crash

According to Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the current price instability is the cost of operations could cause the price of flight tickets on the Lagos-Abuja route to be priced at N250,000.

Obiora Okonkwo, the spokesperson for AON, revealed this recently during a television interview as he addressed the challenges in Nigeria's aviation industry.

The current price of economy class tickets on the Lagos-Abuja flight are sold as low as N51,000 and as high as N91,000, depending on the airline.

TheCable reported that Okonkwo said that local airlines make a lot of sacrifices to keep ticket prices very low.

He said those who think tickets are expensive do not appreciate the patriotism and sacrifices made by airline operators in Nigeria.

"If we have to charge the fares the way the costs are changing daily, you should be paying not less than N250,000 from Lagos to Abuja," Okonkwo said.

The AON spokesman revealed that between December 2002 and May 2023, Nigerian airlines have been losing about $2 million monthly.

He said the airlines still operate despite Nigeria's challenges and economic situation.

The spokesman said the naira swap, the February election, uncertainties, and poor economic activities were some problems facing the aviation industry.

He said the operators cannot shut down the air because of cost and not to be accused of economic sabotage or even coup.