The pains and agony of Christmas fare hikes, by Aderemi Ogunpitan

Every year, like clockwork, airlines raise their fares the moment Christmas approaches. It has become an almost predictable form of exploitation. Families trying to reunite, parents travelling to see their children, and people simply wanting to go home for the holidays suddenly find themselves priced out. The season that should draw people together becomes a time when many are forced to stay apart — not because of distance, but because airlines take advantage of demand.

But the truth is, this problem doesn’t end in December. The overall cost of local flights in Nigeria, and even short regional trips across West Africa, has become unreasonably high all year round. What should be a quick, affordable trip has turned into an expensive commitment. It shouldn’t cost more to fly from Lagos to Abuja than from Lagos to Dubai on a promo ticket — yet that’s our reality.

For businesses, these prices create real pressure. A producer heading to a shoot, an engineer travelling to fix equipment, a startup founder meeting partners in Accra, or a consultant working across states — everybody feels the strain. Companies cut down on travel, push meetings online even when physical presence is needed, and adjust their budgets in ways that slow down operations. Ultimately, these higher costs land in the lap of the consumer, making goods and services more expensive.

Ordinary people are affected just as deeply. Attending weddings, funerals, job interviews, or medical appointments becomes a financial calculation rather than a simple decision. A short holiday within West Africa can feel more expensive than travelling to Europe. And it’s painful to know that mobility within your own country or region has become a luxury.

The wider impact is even more damaging. The African Continental Free Trade Area was built on the idea that people and businesses should be able to move freely across the continent. But how do we grow trade when a one-hour flight across a border costs as much as a long-haul trip to Paris? How do we encourage tourism, cross-border partnerships, or regional cooperation when the price of travel keeps pushing people apart?

The exploitative fares — especially during festive seasons — are a symbol of a bigger issue: the continent cannot move forward when moving around it is so difficult. Until regional air travel becomes fair, affordable, and accessible, our dreams of a connected Africa will remain just that — dreams.