Flight tickets for the major airlines in the country have jumped by almost 40 percent due to the increase in the price of aviation fuel known as Jet-AI.
A return ticket on the popular Abuja-Lagos route for the major domestic airlines is now between N70,000 to N88,000 .
The price of Jet A1 across the nation is now N240 per litre. In Lagos and environs, the price used to be between N205 and N210 per litre until this week when the scarcity worsened.
The product is even more expensive in the hinterland like Abuja, Kano, Sokoto and Yola where it is sold at N250 per litre.
An airline operator who spoke with Daily Trust yesterday under condition of anonymity said the scarcity has continued to worsen as many airline operators are at the mercy of marketers to operate their scheduled flights.
He said: “As I am talking to you now Jet A1 has increased to N240 per litre from N210. Honestly it is not easy at all. We are now running after marketers to get fuel.”
The skyrocketing fuel price may force airlines to adjust their fare to cope with increasing cost of operations precipitated by the scarcity of Jet A1.
For instance, Arik Airline, the nation’s largest carrier, charges between N70,740 and N76,000 for a Abuja-Lagos return ticket; Medview Airline charges between N86,000 and N88,000; and Dana Airline charges N73,800 for a return ticket on the same route.
A spokesman of Dana Air, Mr. Kingsley Okwudili, who spoke with our correspondent said the development has remained the same with the scarcity of Jet A1, adding, however that the airline had managed to operate all its scheduled flights albeit with minor delays.
He urged passengers to bear with the airlines when there is flight delay, saying, “Flights are delayed these days to ensure that there is no cancellation because it has not been easy getting fuel.”
We just seek the understanding of passengers”.
