Allen Onyema, chairman and chief executive officer of Air Peace, says domestic air travellers in Nigeria still pay the lowest fares globally despite recent increases during the yuletide period.
Onyema made the assertion during an interview on ARISE TV on Sunday, where he insisted that Nigerian fares remain comparatively cheaper than those abroad.
“Nigerians are flying the cheapest fares in the world, domestically. Generally, even this season, Nigerians are paying the cheapest. And I’ll prove it to you now,” he said.
The Air Peace chief argued that short-haul flights in other countries often cost more than $400, while similar routes within Nigeria are sometimes sold for about N125,000, a disparity he said contributes to the collapse of many local airlines.
Onyema also drew international comparisons to justify his position on pricing.
He referenced Delta Air Lines’ Atlanta–Charleston service, a flight of under 50 minutes, which he said sells for about $399 one way in mid-January 2026.
“Atlanta to Charleston is about less than 50 minutes by flight. It’s like going to Owerri or thereabouts. Today, it’s selling, in two weeks’ time, for about 400 and something dollars,” he said.
“One-hour flight costs over $400 out there. For a main cabin, it’s $459. One way is $399 for two weeks’ time. Then maybe in the morning, in the afternoon, it’s about $400 and something. But the basics, $399, when you multiply that by N1,500, you’ll be getting over N600,000.
“If it’s $400, you’re getting almost N600,000. In Nigeria, we still have tickets for N125,000. We have tickets for N115,000 in Nigeria, which is less than $60.”
Onyema rejected suggestions that air fares should be determined differently across countries.
He pointed to Nigeria’s harsh operating environment, including expensive financing, maintenance challenges and weak aviation infrastructure.
“Aviation is the same aviation worldwide. We buy our spares from the same market,” he said.
“You buy your aircraft from the same market. In fact, they’re even in a better state than us. What’s all the financing? They borrow money at 2%. Nigerian airlines borrow at 35%.
“The next shop, they could get their spare parts or engines from the next shop. In fact, the same airport where they operate from, the MRO might be there.
“For the Nigerian airline to do any maintenance that requires base maintenance, you have to ferry your aircraft, spending about $400,000 just on ferrying alone. If you want to bring back your engine, you can pay as much as $1.5 million.
“And when you talk about Europe or whatever, you cannot compare. It’s the same aviation, the same amount of money, the same dollar. Nothing is produced in Nigeria.”
Onyema said these pressures explain why more than 80 Nigerian airlines have folded, warning that persistently low fares amid rising costs could further weaken the sector.
His comments come amid fare adjustments by domestic carriers, including Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines, which announced higher ticket prices from December 1, 2025, through January 2026.
Air Peace fixed fares at N350,500 on major routes such as Lagos–Abuja, as well as south-east and south-south destinations during the festive window.
United Nigeria Airlines also set its fares at N350,500, while Ibom Air raised prices from N125,500 to N335,500 for flights to Enugu, Owerri and Asaba beginning December 11.
A one-way Lagos–Asaba ticket on United Nigeria Airlines is listed at N399,999 for December 24, reflecting a sharp rise from pre-holiday levels.