80% drop in cost of foreign flights from Nigeria

Fares for foreign flights crash by 80% Airfares on major international routes from Nigeria have recorded a sharp drop by as much as 80 per cent in recent weeks due to reduced trips by travellers in what is
generally regarded in the aviation industry as a low season. Thus, passengers travelling to some major destinations in the United Kingdom, United States of America, South Africa and United Arab Emirates have been paying less airfares, compared to the situation about three months ago. The low season usually comes with a reduction in demand for tickets to choice destinations around the world. The falling airfare regime, according to analysts, may continue till the first week of April. Our correspondent learnt that during this period, airline operators offered promos on flight tickets with the aim of attracting customers to make international trips at much cheaper rates. It was gathered that from January 15, which officially marked the beginning of the low season, passengers travelling from Lagos to London had been paying between N150,000 and N170,000 for return economy class tickets for most of the airlines operating on the route. This represents a drop of about 76 per cent in the fare compared to between N250,000 and N300,000 for the same trip in June last year. Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Arik Air are some of the airlines that fly directly to London from Lagos. However, passengers who choose not to fly directly to London could pay a bit less on Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Lufthansa Airlines. For a return trip to South Africa from Lagos, intending economy class passengers are now required to pay between N110,000 and N120,000, which is a decrease of about N80,000 or 80 per cent compared to the N200,000 that was being charged before the advent of the low season. Similarly, an economy class ticket from Lagos to Dubai now goes for about N120,000, compared with the N180,000 payable on the average in September last year. Airlines such as South Africa Airways, Kenya Airways, Rwandair and Arik Air ply the South African route, while Etihad, Qatar and Emirates Airlines are major carriers on the Dubai route. A Dubai-bound passenger, Mrs. Uduak Peters, who spoke to our correspondent at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday, said she bought a return ticket for N120,000. She said, “I paid N120,000 for a direct flight to Dubai and I even bought the ticket in a hurry. I am sure that if I had booked earlier in the year, I might have had it cheaper. “I always prefer making my business trips around this time of the year because it is easier for me, with less stress and more savings. That way, I can price my goods cheaper without having customers complaining about exorbitant prices. The Chief Executive Officer, Gadeshire Travels and Tours, Mr. Olugbenga Adebayo, said travelling activities were a bit low at this time of the year, adding that this informed a lot of promos by the airlines currently. He said, “This period is a time when there is less activity and rush; and when the demand is reduced, there will be resultant reduction in fares. This period is the low season as against the summer period, which is called the high season or the peak period in our business.” “Essentially, you will notice that a lot of airlines have ongoing promos and so, a lot of business people will be travelling at this time in an attempt to save cost.”