Intending air passengers from Nigeria to Europe, North America, Dubai, South Africa and other choice vacation destinations during this year’s summer may pay about 50 per cent more in fares, findings by our correspondent have revealed.
Analyses of airfares to choice holiday cities across the world from some of the international airlines operating in the country showed that as usual, fares would increase as soon as people began to travel for the summer holiday in June.
According to a table of airfares obtained from some top travel management companies, intending passengers from Lagos to London during the summer will pay between N220,000 and N270,000 on a return economy class ticket instead of the current average of between N150,000 and N170,000. This represents a 46.6 per cent likely increase.
Popular airlines on the London routes are British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Arik Air. Others who don’t fly directly on the route are Iberia, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.
Similarly, people planning to go for vacation in the United States, especially New York and other choice cities in the East and West Coasts of America, will not pay the current average fare of N240,000 for an economy class seat.
Instead, they will be paying about N340,000 on the average. This represents a 41.6 per cent increase.
Airlines popular on the US routes are Delta Airlines and United Airlines. Others are British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, KLM and Air France and Arik Air.
In the same vein, a return economy ticket to Dubai during the summer will go for about N190,000. This represents over 80 per cent increase from the current average of N105,000. Carriers popular on the Dubai route are Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airlines.
According to the analyses of the airfares, a return economy ticket to Johannesburg in South Africa, which is currently going for N100,000 on the average, is expected to rise to over N150,000 during the summer, a 50 per cent increase.
Popular carriers on the South Africa routes are South Africa Airways, Kenya Airways, Rwandair and Arik Air.
The table also showed that the economy class fare to Paris is expected to rise by over 40 per cent from the current average of N160,000 to a little above N200,000.
The airfares on the different routes will, therefore, rise by 50 per cent on the average.
The Chief Executive Officer of Peacock Travels, Chief Segun Philips, said airfares usually went up during the summer season because most people travel for vacation during the season.
According to him, the fare rise is a global phenomenon and is not peculiar to Nigeria.
He said, “Airlines all over the world make their money during the summer. This time is also regarded as peak or high season in the global airline business world. So, airlines try to maximise profit during the season. As a matter of fact, some of them lose money during the low season.
“The loss during the low season is usually recovered during the high season. And don’t forget that this idea works based on the principle of demand and supply. Fares go up in the summer season because there is more demand as a result of people going for holidays.”
The Managing Director, Gadeshire Travels and Tours, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, advised intending air travellers during the summer to buy their tickets as well book their hotel rooms ahead of time.
According to him, those who do so stand the chance of getting cheaper fares than those who wait till it is late.
He said, “In the airline business, the earlier you buy your ticket, the cheaper you will get it. And some times, if you don’t buy so early, you may not get the travel the date you wish.