Air Peace has announced a fare hike for its one-way flights from Lagos to Abuja, effective November 1, 2024. The new pricing structure will see fares rise to as high as N200,000, making it the most expensive domestic airline on this popular route. This increase comes amid persistent economic challenges affecting Nigeria’s aviation industry.
A passenger, Emma Ik Umeh, with the X handle @emmaikumeh, shared a screenshot of an email allegedly sent by Air Peace, outlining the new fare adjustments. According to the email, the fare increase will take effect from November 1, 2024, while the current fares will remain valid for flights booked and taken up until October 31, 2024.
In the email, Air Peace detailed a significant fare hike across its various classes. The Business Class J fare will rise from N250,000 to N400,000, while Business Class C will increase from N200,000 to N330,000. For Economy Class, the Y fare will go up from N150,100 to N300,000, S class will rise from N130,000 to N280,000, and B class will increase from N120,000 to N250,000.
Additionally, the H class fare will move from N110,200 to N210,000, and K class will go up from N105,200 to N190,000.
Currently, competitors on the Lagos-Abuja route are charging significantly less than Air Peace’s new rates. Aero Contractors is offering fares between N94,000 and N109,000, Arik Air’s fares range from N104,405 to N139,292, and Ibom Air tickets are priced between N124,000 and N133,000.
The sharp increase in Air Peace’s fares has raised concerns among passengers, many of whom are already struggling with the effects of inflation and economic hardship.
There have been reports of travellers being stranded at airports due to rising airfares, which have made it difficult to secure flights between Lagos and Abuja, as well as between Abuja and Lagos. The availability of seats has also become an issue for many.
An anonymous Air Peace official confirmed that the fare hikes were driven by the worsening economic conditions in Nigeria, particularly the increasing operational costs in the aviation sector. “If you look at the ticket breakdown, you’ll see that our aviation company is struggling financially, with operational costs spiraling out of control,” she said.
The official added that heavy taxes paid to the government are also contributing to the fare increases, leaving airlines with little choice but to pass on these costs to passengers.Attempts to reach Toyin Olajide, Air Peace’s Chief Operating Officer, for further comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
