Passengers across Nigeria are facing unprecedented fare hikes and frequent flight disruptions as the country’s domestic aviation sector completes a turbulent first half of 2026, choked by skyrocketing operational expenses and intensifying regulator enforcement.
Between January and June 2026, domestic airfares on high-density routes such as the Lagos–Abuja and Abuja–Port Harcourt corridors, more than doubled, with economy seats routinely selling for between ₦150,000 and ₦250,000.
Airline operators attribute the price surges directly to the cost of Jet-A1 fuel, which escalated dramatically over the six-month period to peak above ₦3,300 per litre.
The combined weight of fuel inflation and operational bottlenecks took a severe toll on service reliability across key hubs, including Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Disgruntled travelers reported widespread flight delays, sudden cancellations, and prolonged tarmac waits. According to domestic carriers, severe foreign currency constraints further delayed routine aircraft maintenance overseas, grounding several airframes and forcing airlines to run reduced daily flight schedules.
As carriers struggled to maintain profitability, unpaid service charges accrued rapidly, triggering firm action from aviation watchdogs. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) enforced strict compliance measures, placing multiple airlines on a cash-and-carry regime for statutory fees, including the 5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Passenger Service Charge (PSC).
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) intensified its debt recovery drive against airlines while simultaneous infrastructure upgrades at terminal gates led to passenger processing bottlenecks and security checkpoint delays.
Industry leaders warn that without targeted policy interventions, domestic air travel risk becoming unaffordable for the average citizen.
Representatives from the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have called on the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to facilitate special foreign exchange windows for aviation fuel imports and maintenance spares.
Meanwhile, aviation analysts suggest accelerating integration with local refining capacities, such as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, to buffer domestic supply from external price shocks.
As the industry enters the second half of 2026, operators, regulators, and passengers alike are bracing for critical government policy decisions aimed at keeping Nigeria’s commercial fleet airborne.
