The Federal Government has been advised to reduce aviation charges and taxes to lower airfares and make air travel more affordable in Nigeria.
The Chief Commercial Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Adedayo Olawuyi, gave the advice on Wednesday while speaking at the AeroWest conference in Lagos, themed “The Real Cost of Running Aviation Business: Fixing Connectivity, Affordability, FX, Fuel and Border Friction,” as contained in a statement issued by the airline and seen by Nairametrics.
For many Nigerians, air travel has long remained beyond the reach of the average passenger, with high ticket prices making flying an option largely reserved for those who can afford it.
In the statement seen by Nairametrics, Olawuyi said the high cost of financing remains a major challenge for domestic airlines, with borrowing costs making it difficult for operators to sustain their businesses.
He also said airlines face challenges operating some routes in West Africa because of low passenger demand, making it necessary for carriers to deploy aircraft that match the size of the market.
Olawuyi said the challenges facing the sector cannot be addressed by airlines alone and called for greater cooperation among government, regulators and industry operators to improve connectivity and support sustainable airline operations.
Olawuyi identified foreign exchange, aviation fuel, aircraft maintenance, pilot training and financing as major cost pressures facing airlines.
He said the mismatch between naira revenues and foreign currency expenses exposes carriers to significant losses, particularly when the naira depreciates.
Olawuyi said Jet A1 prices rose from about N900 per litre in December 2025 to around N3,000 per litre in 2026, adding to pressure on airline operating costs.
He stressed that airlines cannot cut essential expenses at the expense of safety.
The cost pressures identified by Olawuyi extend to pilot training and aviation fuel infrastructure.
However, he said Jet A1 prices remain linked to international benchmarks and foreign exchange, while road transportation to airports adds to the final cost.
Jet A1 accounts for more than 40% of airline operating costs in Nigeria, according to aviation fuel expert Peter Zira Dia, who warned that supply constraints could cause flight delays and cancellations.
Adeyinka Adewole, MD/CEO of Raven Energy Nigeria, also said higher Jet A1 costs would ultimately be passed on to passengers through higher ticket prices.
West Africa has the highest average tax on air passengers in Africa, at about $110 per departure, more than three times Europe’s $32 average for comparable short regional journeys, according to the Atlantic Council.
ECOWAS announced in December 2025 plans to abolish air ticket taxes across the sub-region from January 1, 2026, to reduce airfares and improve connectivity.
As of September 2026, the taxes had not been abolished.
The continued taxes and other operating costs leave airlines and passengers exposed to the wider cost pressures affecting air travel in the region.
