Air Peace would raise the fare for its one-way flights from Lagos to Abuja from November 1, 2024, with prices reaching N200,000.
The fare hike is the largest among domestic airlines, underscoring the aviation industry’s continued economic woes.
Emma Ik Umeh, an Air Peace passenger with the X handle @emmaikumeh, also posted a screenshot of an email issued by Air Peace.
According to the email, the new flight fares will go into effect on November 1, 2024, and the former fares will be valid for trips until October 31, 2024.
The email details showed that Air Peace increased Business Class J. flight fare from N250,000 to N400,000 and Business Class C. from N200,000 to N330,000.
Also, the fare for Economy Class Y was increased from N150,100 to N300,000; the fare for Economy Class S was increased from N130,000 to N280,000; the fare for Economy Class B was increased from N120,000 to N250,000; the fare for Economy Class H was increased from N110,200 to N210,000; and the fare for Economy Class K was increased from N105,200 to N190,000.
A review of current airfares indicates that while Air Peace charges N200,000 and above for this route, competitors like Aero offer tickets for N94,000 to N109,000. Arik Air fares range from N104,405 to N139,292, and Ibom Air prices fall between N124,000 and N133,000.
Passengers have expressed concerns over the rising costs, as the increased fares may further limit access to air travel for many Nigerians, already grappling with the challenges of inflation and economic uncertainty.
Many passengers have recently found themselves stranded at airports due to soaring airfares, making securing flights to their intended destinations difficult.
The routes between Lagos and Abuja, as well as Abuja and Lagos, are particularly affected, with many travelers struggling to find available seats.
An Air Peace official, who requested anonymity, confirmed the situation and attributed the fare increases to Nigeria’s worsening economic challenges.
“If you look at the ticket breakdown, you’ll see that our aviation company is suffering financially, with operational costs spiraling out of control,” she said.
“All the heavy taxes are paid to the government, and airlines have no choice but to raise prices. It’s simply the reality we face.”
Efforts to reach Toyin Olajide, the Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, were unsuccessful as of press time.
