Nigerians planning to travel home for Christmas may face significantly higher airfares, as ticket prices on some domestic routes have surged by nearly 200 per cent ahead of the festive season.
Findings from airline booking platforms show that economy-class tickets on routes connecting Lagos and Abuja to parts of the South-East and South-South have increased to between N196,000 and N337,500 for December 20 and 21, 2026.
The fares, which previously ranged between N106,000 and N143,000 on some routes, reflect sharp increases by domestic airlines as demand builds ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Aero Contractors recorded one of the steepest increases, raising its Lagos-Asaba economy fare from N106,286 on November 9 to N327,940 for December 20, representing an increase of approximately 208 per cent.
Similarly, Air Peace increased its Lagos-Asaba economy fare from N118,400 on November 9 to N337,500 for December 21, while its business-class ticket on the route stood at N432,700.
On the Abuja-Enugu route, Air Peace’s economy fare rose from N116,400 to N335,500, representing an increase of about 188 per cent.
United Nigeria Airlines’ Lagos-Benin fare also climbed from N120,000 to N310,500, while Aero Contractors’ Abuja-Benin ticket increased from N117,627 to N196,522.
Other airlines also recorded increases on some routes, although at comparatively lower rates.
Ibom Air’s Lagos-Uyo economy fare, for instance, rose from N143,200 to N200,300, while its Abuja-Uyo service was listed at N200,100 for December 21.
Other affected destinations include Port Harcourt, Owerri and Ebonyi, as travellers prepare for the annual festive-season movement.
The latest increases have renewed concerns over the affordability of domestic air travel, particularly for Nigerians who rely on flights to reunite with family members during the Christmas celebrations.
The development also comes amid regulatory concerns over seasonal increases in domestic airfares.
In January, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) accused some domestic airlines of engaging in price-fixing during the 2025 Yuletide season.
The commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Tunji Bello, said preliminary investigations showed that airfares had risen to between N405,000 and N600,000 during the period.
Subsequent findings by the FCCPC indicated that ticket prices during the December peak were substantially higher than post-holiday fares on several routes, despite relative stability in major operating costs, including aviation fuel, government taxes and foreign exchange.
Reacting to the latest increases, a passenger, Shayo Adigun, appealed to airlines to consider the prevailing economic conditions and the financial challenges facing Nigerians.
“We understand that this always happens, but airlines must please consider the current economy. Things are not easy, and road travel is not possible,” Adigun said.
With Christmas approaching, the rising cost of domestic flights is expected to remain a major concern for travellers planning to visit their hometowns during the festive period.
