Arik, Aero, others slash fares

Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos

Domestic airline operators have reduced their fares, as part of measures to woo passengers.

Some airline officials told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the move was to encourage travellers who could not afford the high fares.

Arik Air, which sold its one-way ticket last week for between N30,000 and N40,000 to any destination in the country from Abuja, has reduced the fare to between N30,00 and N35,000 for economy class and N45,000 for business class.

Also, Aero tickets, which were sold for N28,000 economy and N50,000 business class, have dropped to N21,400 and N49,000 respectively, while IRS charges between N22,000 and N25,000 for economy and N50,000 for business flyers.

Med-View, a new airline, which started operation last week, charges between N15,000 and N19,000 for economy ticket and N49,000 on business class to Lagos.

Aero Business Development Manager, Mark Snoxell said the airline reduced its fare to gain more business opportunities.

He said the move would also help the airline to mitigate losses occasioned by flying with empty seats.

An official of Arik Air, who pleaded anonymity, said two of its aircraft that were faulty on Friday had been rectified and certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to fly.

SOURCE: THE NATION