The cost of air travel in Nigeria has been steadily increasing, making it unaffordable for the average Nigerian. This surge has caused concern among both the public and stakeholders in the aviation sector. The Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, announced the formation of a committee to investigate these price increases and find ways to bring airfares down. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have also called for urgent government intervention, citing existential threats to their business operations.

Aviation management consultant Babatunde Adeniji highlighted the heavy reliance on dollars in the airline industry. He pointed out that aircraft are imported and maintained in dollars, and many critical suppliers have businesses vulnerable to exchange rate risks. Adeniji emphasized that the airline industry is highly susceptible to economic shocks, as any changes in the economy can negatively impact it. He noted that as people's incomes shrink, air travel becomes less of a priority, leading to a decrease in demand.

Former managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Roland Iyayi, explained that airline ticket fares are determined by various production costs, with fuel being a critical component. He stressed that it would be unsustainable for airlines to sell below their cost of production and suggested that the government should work to reduce the cost of the dollar and fuel to help lower airfares.

Iyayi expressed concern about the challenges airlines face in sustaining their operations and warned that without significant changes, many airlines would struggle to stay afloat. The situation has raised fears of a potential shutdown of the aviation sector if the issues are not addressed.

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