The prices of air tickets to various parts of the country have doubled due to the high demand that comes with the yuletide season.
Passengers are not surprised by the hike considering the antecedents of airlines during festive periods.
Routes that would normally cost between N19,000 and N41,000 now costs between N36,000 and N70,000 for economy and N70,000 to N90,000 for business class depending on the time and destination.
Tickets for the Abuja-Lagos route on Air Peace sold for between N42,600 and N70,000 on Saturday and in spite of the high price of ticket, only its evening flight had some available seats as at Saturday morning.
Arik Air sold its ticket ranging from N35,000 to N46,000 on all routes while Max Air tickets sold for between N40,000 and N70,000 on Lagos-Abuja route, N30,000 to N60,000 for Abuja-Kano route and N65,000 on Abuja-Port Harcourt route.
Other airlines like Aero Contractors, Dana Air, Medview sold their tickets between N44,188 to N52,000; N34,200 to N79,200 and N33,748 to N54,646 respectively.
Obiora Okeke, a passenger, told newsmen that the issue of fare hike would not stop unless alternative means of transport like modern train services and good roads were provided.
“It is not surprising that we are paying higher fare this time because it has been the case in Nigeria during festive periods because the same thing happens even in road transport sector,” he said.
“The only way out is that government should continue with rail projects to provide alternative means of transportation for people.
“Aside that, we don’t have many viable domestic airlines in Nigeria and the few we have are struggling to survive.”
… NURTW boss, Yasin warns against accidents
Motorists especially commercial drivers have been warned not to over speed during the Christmas season and new year period to guard against avoidable accidents.
The President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Yasin, stated this in his Christmas and new year message.
Yasin noted that, “Motorists should ensure that they maintain a controllable speed limit and ensure that they see that their vehicles are in good condition and road worthy before embarking on any journey.”
The NURTW boss also warned his members and other road users not to handle the steering when they are under the influence of alcohol or any hard drugs and guide against picking passengers on the highways so that they or other passengers would not fall into the hands of criminals.
He however enjoined them not to drive at night so as to forestall any unforeseen incidents.
“The union had embarked on series of enlightenment and sensitisation programmes for their members to be of good behaviours to their passengers and maintain decorum at motor garages and while driving”, he said.
