Reducing the ticket prices will affect airline operators — Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu Defends Airlines

The Senate on Wednesday erupted in anger over the unprecedented surge in domestic airfares, with lawmakers condemning increases that have pushed one-way tickets on key South-South and South-East routes above N300,000—a jump of more than 150 per cent.

The Abuja–Lagos corridor now costs between N400,000 and N600,000, leaving many travellers stranded.

Senator Abdulfatai described the situation as intolerable, saying, “This is unacceptable. We must engage the airlines immediately and find out why these prices are shooting through the roof, especially at a time people are preparing to travel home.”

Several senators echoed the frustration. Senator Adamu Aliero denounced the fare spikes as outrageous, while Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi noted they were “almost a 400 per cent increase,” and questioned delays in establishing a national carrier.

But it was Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s intervention that shifted the tone of the debate. Breaking from the chorus of criticism, Kalu defended the airlines, insisting that operators were grappling with severe economic pressures.

He stressed that the soaring cost of aviation fuel, imported spare parts, and operational expenses had left airlines with little room to reduce fares.

.Kalu warned that forcing prices down could destabilize the industry, arguing that “reducing the ticket prices will affect airline operators.” He explained that high maintenance and fuel costs were directly influencing ticket pricing, adding, “Spare parts are costly, everything is high.”

His remarks aimed to provide context for travellers outraged by the spikes, suggesting that artificially low fares could thr+aten airline sustainability—and potentially compromise safety and reliability within the sector.

“Reducing the ticket prices will affect airline operators,” he repeated, standing firm on his position despite pushback from fellow lawmakers.