Get Guardian on Google• Edo signs MoU with China, KDN Aero to launch state-owned airline
Airfares on major domestic routes connecting Lagos and Abuja to South-East and South-South destinations have increased by about 200 per cent as airlines begin to cash in on the growing demand for air travel ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Meanwhile, Edo State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Express Airline Co. Ltd and KDN Aero to establish a state-owned airline.
A survey of airline booking platforms, conducted by The Guardian, indicated that one-way economy tickets on some routes, which sold for between N106,000 and N143,000, have risen to between N196,000 and N337,500 for flights scheduled for December 20 and 21, 2026, depending on the airlines.
The increases, which affect destinations, including Asaba, Enugu, Uyo and Benin City, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Ebonyi and others, have renewed concerns about the affordability of domestic air travel during the Yuletide, particularly for passengers travelling from Lagos, Abuja and other domestic destinations to reunite with their families.
For instance, a one-way economy ticket on Air Peace from Lagos to Asaba, which cost N118,400 for November 9, rose to N337,500 for December 21, representing an increase of about 195 per cent. The business-class fare on the same route for the same December 21 date stood at N432,700.
Also, the Airline’s economy fare from Abuja to Enugu increased from N116,400 on November 9 to N335,500 on December 21, representing an increase of about 185 per cent.
On the Lagos-Uyo route, Ibom Air’s economy fare rose from N143,200 on November 9 to N200,300 on December 21, an increase of about 40 per cent.
The airline’s Abuja-Uyo service was priced at N200,100 for the December 21 flight.
Also, United Nigeria Airlines increased its Lagos-Benin economy fare from N120,000 on November 9 to N310,500 on December 21, indicating about 160 per cent increase.
Aero Contractors recorded a similar drift, with its Lagos-Asaba economy fare rising from N106,286 on November 9 to N327,940 on December 20, an increase of about 210 per cent.Abuja-Benin fare also increased from N117,627 on November 10 to N196,522 on December 21, representing an increase of approximately 67 per cent.
The development has again brought to the fore the debate over the affordability of domestic air travel during festive periods, with passengers often complaining that travelling home for Christmas has become increasingly expensive.
In January, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) accused some indigenous airlines of price-fixing during the 2025 Yuletide period.
Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Dr Tunji Bello, had said that the Commission’s preliminary investigations revealed that during the period, airfares went as high as N405,0000 to N600,000, a situation he frowned on.
However, an aviation analyst, Chris Amokwu, in an interview with The Guardian, debunked the allegation of price-fixing by indigenous airlines.
Amokwu attributed high domestic airfares to the difficult operating environment, characterised by foreign exchange volatility, rising aviation fuel prices, multiple taxation and inadequate airport infrastructure.
He said that airlines earn most of their revenues in naira, but incur substantial expenses in foreign currencies, particularly for aircraft leasing, maintenance, insurance and spare parts.
Signing the agreement at Government House, Benin City, with representatives of the Chinese airline led by its President, Shansheng Li, following a presentation on the company’s operational capacity, Governor Monday Okpebholo said the carrier would be operating “very soon”.
Expressing satisfaction with the proposed partnership and describing the MoU as the beginning of a longer relationship, Okpebholo said, “We have signed the MoU, and this is the first part of it. We will continue to build on it.
“A presentation was made, which was very beautiful and wonderful. We have seen your capability, and we are ready to do business with you. By the grace of God, Edo Air will be in the airspace very soon. So, we are in partnership with you.”
Managing Director of KDN Aero, Tianzhi Chen, who spoke on behalf of the Chinese delegation and took the audience through the airline’s operations and capabilities, also presented the governor with a model aircraft.
