Airfares in Nigeria surged significantly in August 2024, with the average fare for a one-way domestic flight rising to N123,700.14, according to the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This represents a 25.51% month-on-month increase from N98,560.28 in July 2024.
On a year-on-year basis, airfares jumped by 56.56%, up from N79,011.38 in August 2023. The sharp rise has made air travel more costly for commuters, further reflecting inflationary pressures on transportation.
In terms of regional variations, Niger State recorded the highest airfare at N129,575.21, followed closely by the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, at N129,442.67. Zamfara had the lowest average fare, at N102,665.89, followed by Cross River at N120,088.93.
While air travel costs have soared, the report noted a decline in some other transportation categories. For instance, the average fare for bus journeys within cities fell to N869.35 in August 2024, down by 7.77% from N942.61 in July. However, on a year-on-year basis, city bus fares still rose by 34.95% from N1,336.38 in August 2023.
Despite easing inflationary pressures on short-distance travel, the significant rise in airfares and intercity transportation costs highlights continued challenges for longer-distance commuters.
