Airlines are currently seeing an influx of passengers travelling from Lagos to Abuja, Lagos to Kano, Abuja to Kano and Lagos to Yola because of the forthcoming Sallah celebrations.
Air Peace, Azman, Arik and Max Air raised airfares from between N28,000 and N45,000 to N70,000 on a one-way flight to Kano, Yola, Abuja and Sokoto, showing a 91.7 percent increase.
BusinessDay’s checks show that some airlines going to these destinations were already fully booked during the weekend and were only selling the few remaining business class seats as high as N150,000 to N200,000.
As a result of the passenger surge, Air Peace on Monday resumed its Yola route from Lagos and Abuja to ensure seamless connectivity for its customers for the Eid celebration.
Air Peace also re-launched its Kano-Abuja-Kano connection at the weekend, indicating an underserved market waiting to be served.
Susan Akporiaye, president, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), confirmed that airfares were currently high as a result of the Sallah celebration.
“We are currently seeing a Sallah rush. Tickets available now for flights to Abuja and up North are very expensive. Cheaper tickets have all been sold out even before the weekend. While some airlines are fully booked, others are selling business class tickets at exorbitant amounts,” Akporiaye said.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has however assured all airport users that the nation’s airports are fully ready to host air travellers during and after the celebration.
In a statement by Henrietta Yakubu, general manager, corporate affairs, she stated that to ensure safe, healthy and seamless facilitation of passengers during the festive period, the authority had put necessary safety measures in place, particularly with respect to the COVID-19 protocols laid down by relevant government agencies.
“Facilities are functioning optimally, while our airport security architecture has been strengthened to provide for the expected increase in passenger traffic at the airports,” Yakubu said.
She noted that while the authority advised intending passengers to make early preparations towards completing their travel requirements in good time, it was re-emphasised that protocol officers and orderlies of dignitaries would not be allowed into the airport except if they were travelling alongside their principals.
“Only travelling passengers will be allowed into the airports,” she stated.
