In 2024, domestic air travel in Nigeria faced significant challenges due to economic turmoil, resulting in stagnated passenger numbers.
Passenger Traffic Overview Total Domestic Passengers: From January to June 2024, approximately 5,609,146 passengers traveled domestically.
Comparison with Previous Years: This figure indicates a decline compared to previous years, as the industry faced economic pressures that affected travel demand.
Airline Performance During the first half of 2024, the following airlines reported passenger numbers:
Air Peace: 2,194,476 passengers Ibom Air: 587,063 passengers Arik Air: 447,403 passengers
Dana Air: 299,040 passengers Other airlines like Max Air and United Nigeria Airlines also contributed to the overall passenger count with significant numbers.
Economic Impact on Travel
The economic situation led to increased airfares and a preference for international travel over domestic flights. For instance, average domestic airfares rose by 60.31% year-on-year by October 20242.
Flight Operations
In total, domestic airlines operated 35,398 flights in the first half of 2024, with a notable percentage experiencing delays and cancellations.
Overall, while the aviation sector in Nigeria is pivotal for connectivity, it continues to struggle with economic challenges impacting passenger traffic and operational efficiency.