Domestic Air Travel Declines as International Passenger Numbers Rise

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has highlighted a growing imbalance in the country’s aviation sector, with domestic air travel continuing to decline while international passenger traffic maintains steady growth.

Data released by FAAN on Tuesday shows that passenger movements on local routes have dropped to their lowest level in three years, reflecting increasing difficulties faced by domestic airlines.

Industry operators have repeatedly cited the burden of multiple taxes throughout 2024 and 2025 as a major challenge, a situation that has driven up the cost of domestic flights significantly.

While local carriers struggle, international airlines are recording higher passenger volumes, supported by strong demand for foreign travel. With limited local capacity, international operators continue to benefit from Nigeria’s growing appetite for overseas trips.

FAAN figures indicate that domestic passenger traffic fell to 12.54 million in 2024, down from 14.52 million in 2022, marking a sharp contraction in what was once the backbone of the nation’s aviation industry.

The decline has been steady. Domestic passenger numbers dropped from 14,519,565 in 2022 to 13,409,701 in 2023, a fall of 7.6 per cent, before declining further to 12,543,153 in 2024, representing a 6.4 per cent year-on-year decrease. Overall, the domestic aviation market has shrunk by 13.6 per cent since 2022, losing nearly two million passengers over three years.

In contrast, international travel has continued to expand. Passenger numbers on international routes rose from 3,752,746 in 2022 to 4,070,833 in 2023, an increase of 8.4 per cent. Growth persisted in 2024, with traffic reaching 4,334,665 passengers, a further rise of 6.4 per cent.

Between 2022 and 2024, international air travel grew by 15.5 per cent, adding more than 580,000 passengers during the period.

Analysts attribute the increase to sustained demand from higher-income travellers, rising migration, expanding cross-border trade, and Nigeria’s deeper integration into global travel networks. While the growth in international traffic supports airport revenues and global connectivity, the continued decline in domestic travel raises serious concerns for local airlines that depend heavily on intra-national routes.

Aviation stakeholders warn that without meaningful policy reforms and cost reductions, more Nigerians may continue to opt for road travel over flying.

A retired pilot, Mohammed Badamosi, said the downward trend could persist if domestic airlines fail to improve passenger experience. He questioned the appeal of air travel when frequent delays and cancellations make road transport more reliable.

Badamosi noted that high fares discourage travellers, recalling a recent road trip from Benin to Agbo, where the cost was nearly the same as travelling by road between Lagos and Benin. He argued that it is unreasonable for passengers to pay expensive airfares only to still incur additional road travel costs.

He added that in more developed countries, tourism and travel are packaged to be more attractive, often combining transport and accommodation to enhance value. According to him, domestic airlines must prioritise reliability, respect passengers, adhere to schedules, and reduce disruptions if they hope to win back travellers.