The depreciation of the naira against the United States dollar by 55 per cent at the official foreign exchange market has led to a commensurate depreciation in airfares on international routes in Nigeria, according to findings by The PUNCH.

The naira had fallen from approximately 900/dollar to over 1,400/dollar on Monday after the FMDQ Exchange, which records data the nation’s official exchange rate, reviewed its methodology for calculating the rate.

The review came after the Central Bank of Nigeria accused approved foreign exchange dealers of reporting false figures.

However, barely 24 hours after the movement of the official exchange rate, international airlines operating in Nigeria moved the exchange rate for pricing their tickets to from about N900/dollar to N1,421/dollar.

The development led to approximately 55 per cent in international airfares on Nigerian routes.

Findings by our correspondent on Wednesday showed that ticket prices on Lagos-London-Lagos, Lagos-New York-Lagos, Lagos-Johannesburg, Lagos, among other top destinations had increased commensurately.

The President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies, Susan Akporiaye, who confirmed the sharp increased, said the development would compound the woes of travel agencies.

“We have been feeling the pinch for a long time, and the situation is just getting worse. People who are traveling are not doing so for fun; they are traveling for serious business like medical or even education. It’s no longer about leisure,” Akporiaye told The PUNCH.

Akporiaye explained that travelers were reluctantly parting with money, and given a choice, they wouldn’t pay at all.

“For instance, an air ticket that used to cost $1000 has now surged to N1.5m. The financial strain is a necessity for travelers, forcing them to squeeze their budgets.”

She said the industry operators empathised with their situation, with some passengers resorting to appealing and offering collateral just to pursue their objectives and travel.

The president said the prices would undoubtedly decrease, adding that, “I am optimistic. It’s not the fault of the airlines; rather, it’s a reflection of the country’s economic situation.”

The NANTA leader said at the moment there was no noticeable difference between the rates in the black market and the official window of the forex market.

As such, she advised airlines to open up lower inventory options to encourage travelers already financially burdened.

“I suggest that airlines contemplate offering lower inventory options, enabling customers to access flights for maybe N1m. This customer-centric approach recognises the financial constraints faced by many travelers.

“The higher inventory, nearing almost N5m, shows variations with some options open while others remain closed. It’s crucial to emphasize that airlines are not responsible for setting the exchange rate.”

Price checks by The PUNCH revealed that the average airfare ticket to some of the high-traffic international destinations like London cost N2.77m; Dubai N2.65m; New York N3.2667m; and Johannesburg N3.05m.

For the Lagos-Johannesburg-Lagos route, depending on the travel date, Africa World Airlines charges N2.7m, while Turkish Airlines sets the price at N3.4m. The airfare for a round-trip from Lagos to Dubai is N2.3m with Turkish Airlines, and N3m with Lufthansa.

An agent at Travel and Tours Limited, Maureen Chimaobi informed The PUNCH that the naira’s exchange rate of naira to dollar is getting worse for travelers.

“As of Monday, the exchange rate was $1 to N1450. I don’t know how much it sold today..”

“This ugly development is no longer only limited to the aviation sector, prices of goods and services have generally gone up. Even local commodities are not left out.”

On June 14, 2023, the naira fell signficantly following the decision to allow the currency to fluctuate freely, leading to a significant drop in its value. Since then, airlines and passengers have continued to struggle to bear the surging air ticket prices.

Despite the currency woes, our correspondent could not verify if there is any data to support that travel demands in Nigeria have dropped.

The International Air Transport Association reported that African airlines’ annual traffic rose 38.7 per cent in 2023 versus the prior year.

“Full year 2023 capacity was up 38.3 per cent and load factor climbed 0.2 percentage points to 71.9 per cent, the lowest among regions. December 2023 traffic for African airlines rose 9.5 per cent over December 2022.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/airfares-to-uk-us-others-jump-by-55/%3famp

This is exactly the plan of the government

Increase the dollar against the naira

Reduce Japa rate...

Increas the suffering of Nigerians
Create a new hell

Sirmwill:
This is exactly the plan of the government

Increase the dollar against the naira

Reduce Japa rate...

Increas the suffering of Nigerians
Create a new hell

The government is not in control of the dollar.
Can't you see the spike in naira to dollars rate, and the government measures to control it

Lobatan

Even Japa don jam Sapa

I want enter studio to make a hit single titled

" Japa see Sapa hala Emilokan".

Make una help me find Don Jazzy, Davido, or Olumide.

We are bringing the Grammy home...

I hate to be the purveyor of this, but if you are a Nigerian and can't afford to shore up your Naira by saving in Dollars, abeg, go buy CFA.

No thanks, don't mention.

Use your opolo.

Sapa bien, Japa, Merci.

Hehehe.

Make una leave us alone with this type of news,na person wa chop belle full da travel .

😂 prospective japarians will be depressed right now

Nigeria government last opportunity of frustrating you even if u wan run go where government dey function

Zanzibar1:


The government is not in control of the dollar.
Can't you see the spike in naira to dollars rate, and the government measures to control it

Shurrup your mouth.

The same Government sharing dollar to delegates and voters.

Defender of thieves

So dem no want make we japa or wht?

Dem Go Feel It.......By Davido.

Well this life, I can't kill myself

Umm. Even if they increased minimum wage today. Within a month time it would be useless again compared to inflation. I have lost 3 contracts this year because of inflation as I couldn’t do it as i use to do before due to inflation. Most Nigerians are not yet ready to adjust price and it make us tired and frustrated with no money and the inflation

And if you check am ..Na only Nigeria the thing go rose astronomically .....Benin Republic and Ghana go still dey cheaper ..but Na still sake West Africa


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppl9Y59aMXk

"This is a good achievement. The increased airfare will reduce the amount of travelling hence reducing climate change" --- APC supporters

Please check my buisness thread

Shiiii just got real....wtf man

Subsidy is gone effects.....

Nigeria!

Interesting

gaby:
Lobatan

Even Japa don jam Sapa

na Sapa jam Japa!

Balabluu

The town hall has finally been found

Ok

Take a road trip around Nigeria or West Africa instead of London or NY.

Chai..


WOw!!


That means transporting Super Eagles upandan must cost like N72 billion.

Zanzibar1:


The government is not in control of the dollar.
Can't you see the spike in naira to dollars rate, and the government measures to control it

who is in control of the dollar?

who is supposed to be in control of the dollar?

We die here!

Nobody is going nowhere. Let's shut the gates of MMIA and NAIA

Las Las, Nigeria go turn into one giant prison for everyone.

If you don’t notice the red cars in Nigeria, you can’t notice them elsewhere.