Nigeria’s air travel sector in 2024 painted a picture of contrasting fortunes, with domestic passenger movements declining sharply while international travel recorded notable gains, according to the latest data released by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The figures also reveal persistent imbalances in air cargo distribution, underscoring structural challenges within the country’s aviation infrastructure.
FAAN reported that a total of 12.54 million passengers passed through domestic airports in 2024, marking a 6.46 per cent decline from the 13.5 million recorded in 2023.
Analysts suggest that high ticket prices, rising operational costs, exchange rate pressures and frequent flight disruptions contributed to the downturn.
This trend has particularly affected smaller regional airports, where passenger volumes remain low, further highlighting the concentration of air travel in Nigeria’s key urban centres.
At the domestic hubs, the volume of passengers was heavily dominated by Lagos and Abuja.
Murtala Muhammed Airport’s domestic terminal handled 4,134,211 passengers, while Abuja recorded 4,372,091, collectively accounting for more than two-thirds of all domestic travellers.
Other airports recorded significantly lower traffic: Port Harcourt processed 1,026,060, Kano 514,460, and Enugu 493,510, with Owerri handling 414,290.
Smaller airports saw far more modest numbers, with Jos recording 39,496, Minna 3,013, and Makurdi 8,182 passengers, reflecting the limited utilisation of regional routes.
In contrast, Nigeria’s international passenger traffic grew 6.4 per cent to 4.33 million in 2024, up from 4.07 million in 2023, driven by strong demand for overseas travel, business connectivity, and diaspora movements.
Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, led with 3,006,102 passengers, up from 2,656,109 the previous year. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, handled 1,070,548 passengers, while Kano recorded 211,671.
Port Harcourt and Enugu processed 10,827 and 33,516 international passengers respectively.
The growth in international travel aligns with broader trends across Africa, where cross-border passenger numbers continue to rise despite challenges in the domestic sector.
Air cargo figures further emphasised the centralisation of Nigeria’s aviation system. Total cargo throughput in 2024 rose to 159.4 million kilograms, surpassing the 135.1 million recorded in 2023.
Imports accounted for 107.7 million kilograms, while exports surged to 42.7 million kilograms, marking the strongest export performance in three years.
Lagos remained the dominant cargo hub, handling 116.7 million kilograms, more than all other airports combined.
In comparison, Kano and Abuja recorded nearly identical total cargo volumes of 14.2 million and 14.1 million kilograms respectively, yet their export contributions differed markedly.
Abuja managed 2.8 million kilograms in exports – more than double Kano’s 1.2 million kilograms – highlighting stronger outbound coordination, better market access, and higher-value shipments from the capital.
Despite these gains, the sector’s heavy reliance on Lagos underscores systemic vulnerabilities.
While the export surge in 2024 reflects improved coordination and infrastructure investment, regional airports continue to lag behind, both in passenger and cargo traffic.
Without strategic development of regional hubs, cold-chain facilities, and freighter connectivity, Nigeria risks perpetuating an aviation system where one megahub dominates while other airports remain underutilised.
The 2024 data therefore signals both progress and caution: international and export-focused segments are thriving, yet domestic travel and regional cargo distribution require urgent attention.
Policy experts emphasise that targeted reforms, including cost reduction, reliability improvements, and infrastructure expansion, will be essential to balance Nigeria’s aviation landscape and ensure equitable growth across all airports.
SOURCES: INDEPENDENT
