UPDATE: Lagos to London plane ticket now above N5m: Airlines may increase prices again after Niger Republic decision

International airfares, especially to European countries, are expected to keep climbing in the next few days.

This follows the closure of the Nigerien airspace by the country’s coup leader on Sunday, August 6, 2023.

National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) announced the closure of Niger Republic’s airspace amid threats by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanding that President Mohamed Bazoum be restored, or there would be military action…

While checks by Legit.ng on some of the notable airlines’ booking portals show that there has yet to be an adjustment, the extra hours expected to be spent on Europe-bound flights being rerouted due to the closure suggest that the increase is only a matter of time.

DailyTrust reports that the Nigerien airspace via Niamey is usually the route for flights from Nigeria to London, Spain, Ireland, France, and several European countries.

Due to the current exchange rate, Nigerians are already paying more than N1 million to travel to Europe, Asia, and the US it is now expected to get even more expensive.

For example, checks show that a one-way ticket to London from Lagos using Virgin Atlantic will start at $3,128.30 (N2.42 million) to as high as $7,578.20(N5.87 million) using the current exchange rate of N774.78/$.

Similarly, British Airways charges customers $2,367(N1.83 million) to $8,596(N6.6 million) for a one-way ticket.

Speaking on the development Atedo Peterside a leading entrepreneur, investment banker, and economist tweeted:

“The closure of Niger Republic airspace will increase the cost of flights from Nigeria to Europe. If Burkina Faso and/or Mali join Niger in declining overflight rights to Nigerian bound aircraft, then inbound and outbound flights from Nigeria to Europe will become very expensive