Mr. Allen Onyema, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, has said that domestic air travellers in Nigeria are paying the cheapest fares in the world.
Allen Onyema
Onyema made the assertion on Sunday during an interview on Arise Television, monitored in Lagos, while responding to widespread complaints over the rising cost of air travel in the country.
He maintained that despite public perception, local flight tickets in Nigeria remain significantly cheaper when compared to fares in other parts of the world.
“Nigerians are paying the cheapest domestic air fares in the world,” Onyema said. He explained that passengers abroad pay far more for similar travel durations, noting that “a one-hour flight costs over $400 abroad, but in Nigeria, we still have tickets for N125,000, which is less than $60.”
The Air Peace boss attributed the frequent collapse of airlines in the country to the inability of operators to cover costs under the current fare structure.
“This is why the mortality rate of airlines in Nigeria is very high; over 80 airlines have come and gone. They should allow airlines to breathe,” he said.
Onyema’s remarks come amid growing concerns among travellers about rising ticket prices, with many Nigerians expressing frustration over affordability.
He insisted that while fares may appear high locally, they remain far below global averages, and urged stakeholders to consider the sustainability of airlines in the country.
