Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines Release New Ticket Prices For Abuja-South East Route
- Two Nigerian airlines, Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines, have hiked their ticket fares to the South East
- The new fares, which were released for the Yuletide, will see passengers paying more than the previous year’s rate
- The new rates, when compared to other regions, such as the North and the South West, are very exorbitant
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Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
The festive season has always driven airfare hikes, but this year’s rates have hit unprecedented levels. Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are charging N350,500 per one-way economy ticket from Lagos and Abuja to Owerri, Enugu, Anambra, Port Harcourt, and Asaba.
Both inbound and outbound trips are affected. Air Peace’s fares apply from December 1, 2025, to January 30, 2026, while United Nigeria’s yuletide pricing begins December 11 and runs through December.
Source: UGC
January brings partial relief
United Nigeria Airlines says fares will reduce from January 1, 2026, to N150,000 on routes such as Abuja–Asaba, Port Harcourt, Anambra, and Owerri.
While that offers some relief, the cost remains steep compared to average incomes in Nigeria, where the minimum wage still stands at N30,000 per month. For many families, travelling by air during the holidays is increasingly out of reach.
Cheaper flights up North
By contrast, flights to northern destinations remain cheaper. Air Peace priced its Lagos–Kano route at about N106,900, though some dates also show spikes to N350,500. United Nigeria has fixed Lagos–Kano fares at N220,499.
On the Lagos–Yola route, Air Peace will charge N350,500 during peak days (up from N240,200), while Lagos–Sokoto tickets on United Nigeria will cost N250,000, compared to the usual N175,500.
Other airlines adjust too
The trend cuts across the industry. Ibom Air has raised its Lagos–Uyo fare to N190,800 from N152,700. Arik Air fixed its Lagos–Port Harcourt flights at N191,997 between December 10 and 28, before dropping back to N140,617.
These increases reflect airlines’ need to cover rising costs of aviation fuel (jet A1), spare parts, and operational expenses, all worsened by Nigeria’s weak naira.
Inflation and FX crisis at the core
Analysts say the fare hikes mirror Nigeria’s broader economic struggles. Aviation fuel, largely imported, is priced in dollars — making airlines highly vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations. With the naira hovering at record lows, operators pass the higher costs directly to passengers.
The country’s inflation, now at multi-decade highs, compounds the burden. Industry experts warn that unless the government intervenes — either by stabilising FX or offering targeted subsidies — festive air travel may soon become the preserve of only the wealthy.
What it means for Nigerians
For millions of travellers heading home to the South East and South South, the yuletide ticket hikes represent more than a seasonal inconvenience — they reflect the erosion of purchasing power in a struggling economy.
Source: Getty Images
Without structural reforms in aviation financing, forex supply, and fuel importation, Nigerians may continue to see domestic flight costs soar beyond affordability.
United Nigeria Airlines to launch UK, US flights
Legit.ng earlier reported that United Nigeria Airlines says it would commence regional flight operations to Accra, Ghana, on August 25, 2025.
Other proposed destinations include the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Senegal, at a later date, after getting regulatory approval.
The airline announced this recently, as it confirmed that it had signed a global distribution agreement with Sabre Central and West Africa, to make airfares and inventories available on the Sabre marketplace.
Source: Legit.ng
