Air travelers during this yuletide period may have to pay more following the hike in airfares across many routes.
But for Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, airlines should connect families, and not suppress them with prices.
Also, Chairman of West Link Airlines, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, questioned the rationale behind the price surge, saying it was unjustifiable.
The airlines airfares hike has led to frustration and disappointment among travelers, who found the development disappointing, leading to public outrage.by
The situation has elicited criticism from stakeholders in the air transport sector, even as the Senate condemned the surge in ticket prices.
Captain Sanusi said: “The fare increase during Yuletide is not normal market behaviour. It reflects structure failures in the system. It is not good airline management.
“Yes, there is demand, but it does not justify that level of increase.
“I think we should also understand why the airlines are doing this, and it is the problem of insufficient capacity in the Nigerian aviation market.
“Many airlines are operating with reduced fleets due to aircraft unavailability. Some of them are maintenance challenges.
“When capacity is weak, prices become irrational. That’s the main issue.
“However, sharp seasonal hikes are short term cash grabs, and not sustainable business strategies. Airlines should connect families, not suppress them by prices.
“It is bringing in more aircraft. Maintaining more airplanes locally. There is a need to encourage a predictive pricing framework during peak periods.
“Consumer protection should also come in and see that there is no price fixing. Also, there should be stronger dialogue between airlines, the regulators and the consumer groups.”
Earlier in August, Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines had raised ticket prices to the South-East and South-South regions by 131 per cent ahead of the festive season.
Reports indicate that Air Peace increased its one-way economy ticket from Lagos to Asaba in Delta State from N147,000 to N337,500.
Fares from Lagos to Enugu and Benin in Edo State also rose simultaneously from N145,000 to N335,500, while Abuja to Benin increased from N145,000 to N335,500.
For United Nigeria Airlines, checks revealed that one-way economy tickets from Lagos to Enugu would rise from N125,500 to N335,500 starting December 11. The same tickets from Lagos to Owerri in Imo State and Asaba in Delta State also increased from N125,500 to N335,500.
Latest check revealed that the cheapest one-way ticket on those routes on Air Peace remained N335,500, with most dates already fully booked.
On United Nigeria Airlines, the lowest fare available was N299,998 for the Lagos-Enugu route.