Domestic Air Travel Decline Sparks Concern Among Nigerian Airlines

Nigeria’s domestic airlines are raising alarms over a sustained decline in passenger traffic on local routes, a trend that has also concerned industry stakeholders about the need to boost domestic air travel.

Figures from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), obtained by Opinion Nigeria, show that passenger numbers at local airports fell 11% over three years, from 14,057,060 in 2022 to 13,409,701 in 2023, and further to 12,543,153 in 2024.

Analysts attribute the drop to rising airfare costs, inflation, low disposable income, and worsening living standards.

A breakdown of FAAN data shows:

• 2022: Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport – 4,345,840 passengers; Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport – 5,108,388 passengers.
• 2023: Abuja – 4,851,761; Lagos – 4,348,927.
• 2024: Lagos – 4,134,211; Abuja – 4,372,091; Port Harcourt – 1,026,060; Kano – 493,510.

Airline Warnings

Ibom Air’s MD, George Uriesi, revealed that passenger traffic fell 27% in early 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, describing the situation as “trouble” and stressing the urgency to get people flying again.

“Nobody will earn kobo if airlines do not fly. In the aviation ecosystem, the driver is the airline. Everybody talks about money because airlines are flying,” Uriesi said at the Airport Business Summit and Expo (ABSE) in Lagos.

Similarly, Aero Contractors’ MD, Captain Ado Sanusi, highlighted the need for collaboration between airlines, the aviation industry, and the government to stimulate travel.

“For leisure travel and tourism that are declining, it is because the price of tickets has made it a bit difficult for passengers to travel. We need to see how we can organically stimulate the market…reducing fares through promos, and reviewing taxes,” Sanusi said.

Wake-Up Call for Airlines

Travelden MD, Gbenga Onitilo, described the decline as a commercial wake-up call rather than just an economic issue, pointing to structural weaknesses in airline operations.

“Until Nigerian domestic airlines adopt harmonised fleet strategies, data-led route planning, and professional revenue management, the sector will continue to underperform its potential…The runway is there. The demand exists. What is missing is execution at global standards, run locally with discipline,” Onitilo said.

Signs of Recovery

Despite early-year declines, some industry observers note a rebound in passenger traffic in the latter half of 2025, credited to stabilising exchange rates and easing inflation pressures, suggesting the domestic aviation sector may be poised for recovery.

An insider from a major airline noted:

“The declining annual passenger numbers in 2023 and 2024 reversed in 2025, significantly.”

The situation underscores the need for strategic interventions, including fare promotions, tax review, and operational efficiency, to restore confidence in domestic air travel.

Opinion Nigeria News