As Nigeria’s Christmas travel season takes flight, a stark financial reality is unfolding in the nation’s skies. Domestic air travel has become one of the clearest indicators of regional economic pressure, with ticket prices on some routes surging far beyond the national average.
With demand at its highest and airline capacity stretched thin, passengers travelling to certain states are paying eye-watering premiums—turning popular holiday routes into some of the most expensive domestic journeys by local standards.
Recent transport fare data reveal that airfare inflation is far from uniform. A handful of states, driven by intense festive demand, limited airport access, and constrained flight schedules, now command ticket prices significantly higher than comparable destinations.
Industry experts point to several structural challenges behind the surge. With only about 0.02% of Nigeria’s population travelling by air, airlines struggle to achieve economies of scale. Seasonal travel patterns also play a major role, as late bookings and peak demand push fares higher under the “bucket pricing” system, where ticket prices rise as seats fill up.
Amid public backlash over doubling fares and growing government scrutiny of airline pricing, the list of the most expensive states to reach by air this Christmas offers a revealing snapshot of the forces reshaping Nigeria’s aviation market.
Methodology
This ranking is based on a review of scheduled domestic flights departing from Lagos—Nigeria’s busiest aviation hub—during the peak Christmas travel period. Fare data was compiled from major local flight booking platforms, focusing on available economy-class tickets operated by domestic airlines in the days leading up to Christmas.
Prices reflect one-way fares, which allow for clearer comparisons across destinations, as return tickets vary widely depending on seat availability and travel dates. Where multiple flights were available on a route, average listed fares were used to minimise distortions caused by last-seat pricing.
1. Owerri — ₦580,000
Flying from Lagos to Owerri ranks as the most expensive domestic journey this Christmas season. One-way economy fares for Sunday, December 21, 2025, start from ₦510,638, with most available options clustered around ₦580,637.
All available itineraries involve one-stop connections—typically via Abuja—due to the absence of nonstop services. The fastest option, operated by Air Peace, takes approximately 5 hours 20 minutes.
Despite the steep prices, flights are nearly sold out through early January 2026. Rising insecurity on major highways has also pushed more travellers to abandon road journeys for air travel, further tightening demand on already limited routes.
2. Enugu — ₦430,700
The Lagos–Enugu route is among the priciest this festive season, reflecting strong South-East travel demand. One-way economy fares for December 24 start at ₦430,700.
Unlike several other high-cost routes, Enugu benefits from nonstop services, with two daily flights available. The first departs Lagos at 06:45, while the second leaves at 14:05, each with an average flight time of 1 hour 10 minutes.
3. Warri — ₦429,856
Travel between Lagos and Warri has also become significantly more expensive this Christmas. One-way economy fares begin at ₦391,895, with recommended options averaging around ₦429,856.
All available flights currently involve one-stop connections—mostly via Abuja—as nonstop services are limited during peak periods. The fastest itinerary, operated by Air Peace, takes approximately 3 hours 35 minutes.
4. Asaba — ₦417,217
Lagos–Asaba flights continue to command high festive-season fares. One-way economy tickets start from ₦395,354, with average prices hovering around ₦417,217.
Most itineraries require one-stop connections via Abuja due to limited nonstop availability. While some airlines briefly list lower fares on their platforms, seats at those prices are scarce, with most travellers paying well above ₦300,000 during peak dates.
5. Port Harcourt — ₦335,000
Rounding out the list is Port Harcourt, one of the busiest South-South routes this Christmas. For Saturday, December 20, 2025, one-way economy fares are priced at approximately ₦335,500, reflecting tight seat availability.
The route is served by multiple nonstop flights with an average flight time of 1 hour 10 minutes, but high demand has pushed prices sharply upward as Christmas approaches.
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