As Nigeria’s Christmas travel season takes flight, a stark new financial frontier is emerging in the nation’s skies: the cost of domestic air travel has become one of the most tangible measures of regional economic pressure.
With demand peaking and capacity stretched thin, passengers heading to certain states are now paying premiums that eclipse the national average a phenomenon that has turned popular holiday routes into some of the most expensive in the world by local standards.
Recent transport fare data show that airfare inflation is unevenly distributed. A handful of states, buoyed by high demand, limited entry points, and constrained flight schedules, are now commanding ticket prices far higher than those of their neighbors.
Several structural challenges contribute to these high fares. With only about 0.02% of Nigeria’s population flying, airlines struggle to achieve economies of scale.
Aviation stakeholders have explained that the seasonal spike is largely driven by late bookings and high demand, a pattern that repeats every festive period. Airlines also operate a “bucket” pricing system, under which early passengers pay lower fares, while prices rise as seats fill up.
Against a backdrop of public outcry over doubling fares and government scrutiny of airline pricing, the ranking of the most expensive states to reach by air this festive season provides a critical window into the broader dynamics reshaping Nigeria’s aviation market.
Methodology
This ranking is based on a review of scheduled domestic flights departing from Lagos, Nigeria’s busiest aviation hub, during the peak Christmas travel window. Fare data was compiled from major local air travel booking platforms, focusing on available economy-class tickets on active routes operated by domestic carriers in the days leading up to Christmas.
Prices reflect one-way ticket costs, which provide a clearer comparison across destinations, as round-trip fares can vary widely depending on return dates and seat availability and are often significantly higher during the festive rush. Where multiple flights were available on the same route, average listed fares were used to reduce distortions caused by last-seat pricing.
Cost-N149,420
Travel from Lagos to Abuja remains the most affordable among Nigeria’s major domestic routes this Christmas season. One-way economy-class fares start at N149,420, making it a budget-friendly option for travellers heading to the nation’s capital.
The route is served by direct flights, with the fastest itinerary operated by United Nigeria Airlines, departing Lagos at 19:00 and arriving in Abuja at 20:15, with a flight time of 1 hour 15 minutes.
Max air fare costs N150,000 for the same route. For Airpeace the price seats at N145,000.
Relatively low fares reflect the high frequency of flights on this corridor, shorter distance, and robust competition among carriers, making it one of the few routes where passengers can avoid premium holiday pricing.
