Air Travellers Bemoan Fare Hike

Air travellers in Nigeria have lamented the hike of air fares by over 20 percent for  domestic routes.

Air fares went up about two weeks ago after aviation fuel was increased by marketers  in the country.

Prior to the increment, a litre of Jet A-1, as aviation fuel is known, sold for N115  which now goes for N126 per litre.

Aviation analysts have said that Nigeria aviation fuel is the most expensive in the  world.

Passengers who spoke with P.M.NEWS this morning at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2,  MMA2, and the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, disclosed that they now have to pay an  extra of N4,000 for domestic routes.

For instance, a trip to Abuja that used to cost N15,000 at this time of the year now  goes for N20,000 for economy class. Same applies to Kano, Enugu, Owerri, Calabar or  Maiduguri.

A passenger on IRS Airline, Ifeanyi said, “I used to pay N15,000 to go to Abuja  about this time last year on most airlines. I culd even pay N13,500 on Dana Airline  when I bought a return ticket but now, I pay N20,000 to N22,000 for the same trip.”

John Okafor, another passenger travelling with Aero Contractors to Abuja called on  the government to come to passengers’ rescue.

He said, “government must ensure that Aviation fuel goes down so that air travel  could be accessible to all Nigerians.

—Simon Ateba

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