• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Monday, June 30, 2025
Umpirenews | Latest News, Politics, Breaking News, Nigeria and African history
Advertisement
  • National
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Columns
No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Columns
No Result
View All Result
Umpirenews | Latest News, Politics, Breaking News, Nigeria and African history
No Result
View All Result

Nigerian Airlines Struggle with High Maintenance Costs Amid Currency Crisis

Vincent Amadi by Vincent Amadi
March 24, 2025
in Economy
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
Nigerian Airlines Struggle with High Maintenance Costs Amid Currency Crisis
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsappShare on EmailShare on Telegram


Few aircraft have been used for domestic passenger flights in recent months as Nigerian airlines have been downsizing their fleets due to high maintenance costs. Some airlines have sent aircraft for maintenance but are unable to return them due to rising maintenance costs caused by the currency crisis.
Some have been forced to ground their aircraft as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been unable to send them for maintenance, resulting in fewer aircraft available to passengers. Additionally, the closure of Dana Airlines, a relatively low-cost airline with six aircraft, has also affected domestic fleets.
Ticket prices have increased on routes previously operated by Dana Airlines. The Lagos-Abuja route is more oversupplied with passengers than other routes as airlines that charged between 60,000 and 80,000 naira three months ago are now charging up to 200,000 naira or more for a one-way economy ticket to travel on this route.
With no other option, passengers had to pay the full price.


Passengers who tried to book tickets from Lagos to Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday were unable to board as all airlines were fully booked. On Thursday morning, Valujet operated only two flights from Lagos to Abuja, one at 6:45 am and the other at 7:30 am.
Similarly, passengers were unable to take flights from Anambra to Abuja on Thursday. On Thursday, airlines were selling one-way economy tickets for the Asaba-Abuja route for up to 175,000 naira, up from about 70,000 naira three months ago.
Data obtained by Journalists from the NCAA on Thursday showed that 13 domestic airlines operate in Nigeria, including Aero, Air Peace, Arik, Azman, Dana, Green Africa, Ibom Air, Max Air, NG Eagle, Overland, Reno Air and United Nigerian Air and ValueJet together operate a total of 91 aircraft. The data also includes aircraft under maintenance.
A source close to the NCAA told Journalists that, excluding the grounded Dana Air, more than half of the 91 aircraft are under maintenance, putting strain on the few aircraft still in operation.
Five years ago, the company had a fleet of more than 120 aircraft, despite there being only 10 domestic airlines offering routes to Nigeria, according to a Journalist review. Travel experts say travel is now only for the wealthy due to the decline in aircraft, with monopolies emerging on certain routes.
“If you go to the counter at the domestic terminal, you may not be able to get a seat unless you bring at least 200,000 naira. What’s surprising is that some airlines are telling you they are selling premium economy when there is no such thing. They are selling business class and when you board the plane you will see they are selling economy class,” Olumide Ohunayo, industry analyst and head of research at Zenith Travels, told Journalists. Ohunayo said the issue has been around for a while and continues to occur on routes operated by Dana.
“The cancellation of Dana’s licence and the decommissioning of aircraft that cannot be maintained due to a lack of foreign currency have led to a reduction in the size of the fleet. The grounding of Dana is a big problem.
We need to find a way to get around this problem of capacity and available seats. Passenger numbers are not increasing but the supply of aircraft is decreasing. Passengers are really suffering during this time,” he said.
Managing Director of Gina Travels and Tours Ltd, Ndukwe Ginika Ogechi, told Journalists that ticket prices have continued to rise in recent weeks while seats have been reduced on underserved routes due to lack of available aircraft.


“My customers have complained as it has become difficult to get flights to Asaba, Enugu, Owerri, and some northern destinations as airlines that previously offered more than two flights to these destinations are now offering only one flight a day or not at all,” Ogechi said.
One airline, who did not wish to be quoted, told Journalists that flights have been filling up recently due to capacity issues. An Air Peace official said the airline understands the situation and is looking to increase flights on some domestic routes once some of its aircraft return from maintenance.
“The Abuja-bound route is the most heavily traveled route in Nigeria as there are also plenty of business opportunities linked to the destination, from major economic summits to political events this month,” the source added.
The airline sells tickets in naira but pays for spare parts, aircraft maintenance, and insurance in dollars. They are suffering from rising operational costs due to the drastic devaluation of the naira against the dollar in the official and parallel markets.
When the naira to dollar exchange rate was 400 naira, airlines paid 200 to 400 million naira to do a C-check. At the current exchange rate of about 1,507 naira to dollar, airlines have to pay 800 to 1.5 billion naira to do a C-check for one aircraft.
Airlines were already paying high insurance premiums as Nigeria is considered a high-risk area and local insurance companies in Nigeria are allegedly charging high premiums.
A Journalist survey revealed that Nigerian airlines pay 8 to 10 percent of aircraft insurance premiums, while airlines in Ghana, South Africa, and other African countries pay only 2 to 3 percent. Moreover, European and US airlines pay 0.5-1% to insure the same aircraft.
Nigerian airlines pay an average of $1 million per year to insure a B737-300 aircraft, while Ghanaian and US airlines pay $200,000-300,000 to insure the same aircraft. When the exchange rate rises, airlines pay higher premiums.

Tags: business
Vincent Amadi

Vincent Amadi

Related Posts

Senate Threatens Arrest of NNPCL Boss over missing N210 Trillion
Economy

Senate Threatens Arrest of NNPCL Boss over missing N210 Trillion

3 days ago
IPMAN: Dangote’s New Delivery Plan Will Bring Cheaper Fuel to Nigerians’s
Economy

IPMAN: Dangote’s New Delivery Plan Will Bring Cheaper Fuel to Nigerians’s

1 week ago
Enforce Transparent Pump Pricing, oil marketers Cheating Nigerians, PENGASSAN laments
Economy

Enforce Transparent Pump Pricing, oil marketers Cheating Nigerians, PENGASSAN laments

2 weeks ago
PETROAN kicks against Dangote’s petrol distribution strategy
Economy

PETROAN kicks against Dangote’s petrol distribution strategy

2 weeks ago

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

NATIONS NEWS

Tension Rises as Police Bar PDP BoT from Party Secretariat
National

Tension Rises as Police Bar PDP BoT from Party Secretariat

11 hours ago
Tinubu, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Formalize Diplomatic Relations, Eye Cultural and Economic Cooperation
International

Tinubu, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Formalize Diplomatic Relations, Eye Cultural and Economic Cooperation

13 hours ago
Comrade Babangida Declares for NYCN Presidency, Promises Sweeping Reforms and Youth Reawakening
National

Comrade Babangida Declares for NYCN Presidency, Promises Sweeping Reforms and Youth Reawakening

2 days ago
Fubara, Wike, and Amaewhule Reunite in Rivers State Following Presidential Reconciliation
National

Fubara, Wike, and Amaewhule Reunite in Rivers State Following Presidential Reconciliation

2 days ago
Alhaji Aminu Dantata Dies at 91, Tributes Pour in for Kano Business Icon
National

Alhaji Aminu Dantata Dies at 91, Tributes Pour in for Kano Business Icon

2 days ago
Columns

Kidnapped, Silenced, Vindicated: The Full Impact of Kanu’s Judgment

3 days ago

POLITICS

Akpobari Declares Sole Administrator Role Dead After Wike, Fubara Reconciliation

Akpobari Declares Sole Administrator Role Dead After Wike, Fubara Reconciliation

11 hours ago
APC Confirms Incoming Defections from Governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Kano, Others

APC Confirms Incoming Defections from Governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Kano, Others

13 hours ago
David Mark emerges coalition’s ADC interim national chairman

David Mark emerges coalition’s ADC interim national chairman

1 day ago
Peter Obi urges Northern leaders to invest in education to tackle poverty

2027 elections: Coalition to reveal adopted party this week

1 day ago
PDP Crisis Deepens as NWC Members Reject Anyanwu

PDP Crisis Deepens as NWC Members Reject Anyanwu

5 days ago
President Tinubu should Declare State of Emergency in Benue – Security expert Babaeko

2027 ELECTIONS: Tinubu Dismisses 2027 Coalition, Calls Opponents Political IDPs

5 days ago

YOUR ECONOMY

Senate Threatens Arrest of NNPCL Boss over missing N210 Trillion
Economy

Senate Threatens Arrest of NNPCL Boss over missing N210 Trillion

3 days ago
IPMAN: Dangote’s New Delivery Plan Will Bring Cheaper Fuel to Nigerians’s
Economy

IPMAN: Dangote’s New Delivery Plan Will Bring Cheaper Fuel to Nigerians’s

1 week ago
Enforce Transparent Pump Pricing, oil marketers Cheating Nigerians, PENGASSAN laments
Economy

Enforce Transparent Pump Pricing, oil marketers Cheating Nigerians, PENGASSAN laments

2 weeks ago
PETROAN kicks against Dangote’s petrol distribution strategy
Economy

PETROAN kicks against Dangote’s petrol distribution strategy

2 weeks ago
Dangote Refinery Begins Distribution of Petrol Nationwide
Economy

Dangote Refinery Begins Distribution of Petrol Nationwide

2 weeks ago
Nigeria Stock Exchange to Partner with Hong Kong’s Stock market
Economy

Nigeria Stock Exchange to Partner with Hong Kong’s Stock market

3 weeks ago

E & P

Luis Enrique: We Can’t Stop Messi Without a Collective Effort
Sports

Luis Enrique: We Can’t Stop Messi Without a Collective Effort

by Steven Atogi
1 day ago
0

Paris Saint Germain (PSG) will face Inter Miami tonight in the highly anticipated Club World Cup match. PSG coach Luis...

Fenerbahçe Closes In on €10M Transfer Deal for Colombian Striker Jhon Durán

Fenerbahçe Closes In on €10M Transfer Deal for Colombian Striker Jhon Durán

2 days ago
Chiamaka Nnadozie Joins Brighton Women FC from Paris FC

Chiamaka Nnadozie Joins Brighton Women FC from Paris FC

2 days ago
Breaking: NAPTIP declares Speed Darlington wanted

Breaking: NAPTIP declares Speed Darlington wanted

3 days ago
Cristiano Ronaldo Extends Al Nassr Contract, Commits to Saudi Pro League Project Until 2027

Cristiano Ronaldo Extends Al Nassr Contract, Commits to Saudi Pro League Project Until 2027

4 days ago
MultiChoice Slashes DStv Decoder Price by 50%

MultiChoice Slashes DStv Decoder Price by 50%

5 days ago

YOUR THOUGHT & HISTORY

Columns

Kidnapped, Silenced, Vindicated: The Full Impact of Kanu’s Judgment

by Odini Brains
3 days ago
The Emerging Kogi: Economic Growth Impact Transforming Better Reality
Columns

The Emerging Kogi: Economic Growth Impact Transforming Better Reality

by Kiikpoye Karibo
5 days ago
ON THE PUBLIC NUISANCE CALLED SOWORE
Opinion

ON THE PUBLIC NUISANCE CALLED SOWORE

by Kiikpoye Karibo
4 months ago
Data Visualizations
Columns

Five Key Considerations for Creating Effective Data Visualizations

by Blessing Chinyere Daniel
6 months ago
The Transformative Power of AI in Revolutionizing Industries and Empowering Growth
Columns

The Transformative Power of AI in Revolutionizing Industries and Empowering Growth

by Blessing Chinyere Daniel
7 months ago

Who we are

Umpirenews | Latest News, Politics, Breaking News, Nigeria and African history

Welcome to Umpire News, your go-to online newspaper dedicated to broadening perspectives and expanding the horizons of our numerous readers. Read more

Browse by Category

  • Columns
  • Economy
  • Editorial
  • Entertainment
  • International
  • National
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Trends

Recent News

Speed Darlington Rejects NAPTIP Summons, Denies Allegations of Rape and Cyberbullying

Speed Darlington Rejects NAPTIP Summons, Denies Allegations of Rape and Cyberbullying

June 30, 2025
Tension Rises as Police Bar PDP BoT from Party Secretariat

Tension Rises as Police Bar PDP BoT from Party Secretariat

June 30, 2025
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Copyright Umpirenews. All rights reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Columns

© 2024 Copyright Umpirenews. All rights reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
🤑Join & Get Our Easter Gifts 🤑

Enter your NAME & Email NOW!!

Be among the 1st 100 lucky WINNERS to win our Amazing GIFTs this Easter Period as you READ our Daily hot NEWs & make meaningful comments and follow us on our social media handles.

Name
Enter your email address