ULOKA CHIBUIKE
There has been a lot of heated debate about airfares to the Southeast compared to other routes, but much of the conversation has been driven by emotions rather than facts.
The reality is that during Christmas, air traffic into the Southeast is heavily one-way. Flights heading to Anambra, Enugu, Owerri and, or Port Harcout are usually full, but on the return leg to Lagos or Abuja, the aircraft is almost empty. This is very different from northern routes, where traffic is more evenly balanced in both directions because there’s no yuletide but normal operations.
While the cost of operating to Kano, Sokoto and, or Bauchi is same as the cost operating to Southeast, assuming it’s 30 million naira for to and fro flights, the seats will be classified to cover this cost across routes. Now consider this: a 150-seat aircraft requires at least 7,000 litres of fuel for each trip, costing between NGN1,250 and NGN1,400 per litre. Fuel usage is the same whether the aircraft flies North or East. On northern routes, airlines can carry 80–100 percent passengers each way, with tickets priced at about NGN150,000 per leg (NGN300,000 return).
On Southeast routes during the yuletide, however, airlines may carry around 100 percent passengers into the Southeast but only 10–20 passengers back because everyone is returning home with zero or little outbound, same applies for January. The operator must still pay taxes, fuel the aircraft, and cover crew allowances. These costs do not reduce simply because the flight is empty. Who bears the cost of these operations? If not for the patriotism of airline operators, who are mostly Igbo, flights to the Southeast during the yuletide season would not be as profitable as the northern routes, contrary to common belief. For these operators, it’s about service, so they go the extra mile to ensure travelers can get home and celebrate Christmas with loved ones.
This is why comparing fares between northern and southeastern routes during the festive season often overlooks the operational realities and the financial strain on airlines.
#FactNotEmotions