Allen Onyema, chief executive officer of Air Peace, has said domestic air travel in Nigeria remains the most affordable globally, despite the rising cost of operations in the aviation sector.
Onyema made the claim during an interview on Arise News on Sunday, where he compared fares in Nigeria with those in the United States.
According to him, passengers in the US can pay more than $400 for a one-hour domestic flight, citing routes such as Atlanta to Charleston as an example.
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He explained that Nigerian carriers operate under far tougher financial conditions, noting that airlines in the country contend with high-cost financing, the absence of nearby maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, and the huge expenses involved in ferrying aircraft and engines abroad.
Onyema added that although aviation expenses are denominated in dollars worldwide, Nigerian airlines bear a heavier burden, making the affordability of local fares even more remarkable.
“Do one way, you will get $399 for two weeks time, maybe in the morning. In the afternoon, it’s about $400 and something, but the basics is $399,” he said
“When you multiply that by N1,500, you’re getting over N600,000. If it’s $400, you’ll be getting almost N800,000.
“In Nigeria we still have ticket for N125,000, we have tickets for N115,000 which is less than $60.”
