Ocheme Aba, Deputy General Secretary of the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), has called for stronger government intervention to reduce the cost of air travel in Nigeria, saying the country’s current economic conditions do not suggest that airfares will decline anytime soon.
Speaking on Business Briefing – Ask the Expert, Aba explained that although inflation is slowing, many Nigerians misunderstand what that means. According to him, a lower inflation rate simply means prices are increasing more slowly, not that the prices of goods and services, including airline tickets, are falling.
He attributed the high cost of air travel to the enormous expenses involved in airline operations, including aircraft acquisition, maintenance, fuel, taxes, and financing. He noted that Nigerian airlines borrow at high commercial interest rates, while many foreign carriers enjoy government-backed financing at much lower rates, giving them a significant competitive advantage.
Aba urged the Federal Government to introduce policies that make financing more affordable for domestic airlines through sovereign-backed funding or other financial support mechanisms. He said lowering the cost of doing business would strengthen local airlines, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately make air travel more affordable for passengers.
He also advised travelers to reduce travel costs by booking flights early and comparing ticket prices across different airlines before making reservations.
