Greed: How African Airlines Are Extorting Their People With High Fares

It’s disheartening when issues like exorbitant airfares overshadow the mission of connecting people. The complexities around African airlines and high-ticket prices due to transit visa requirements can lead to frustration and often raise questions about profit motives versus passenger welfare.

Certainly, the situation isn’t solely about airlines’ greed. Factors like regulatory requirements, operational costs, and visa policies imposed by other countries contribute significantly to the challenge. African carriers, like any business, need to cover their operational expenses while ensuring they comply with international regulations.

However, there’s a responsibility on airlines to advocate for more accessible travel and fairer policies. Collaborative efforts, lobbying for policy changes, and emphasizing the impact on passengers can drive positive change. Yet, it’s crucial to strike a balance between profitability and ensuring that air travel remains accessible to all, especially within the continent.

Whilst we praise the likes of Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Egypt Air for their service to Africans, little did we also know that they are nothing but opportunists that are driven by greed and unfaithfulness.

African passengers, mostly Nigerians, are loyal to them through patronage, they shamefully rip them off through exorbitant fares just because they know that most Nigerians and Africans may not have the luxury of securing a transit visa to fly European Carriers that are even cheaper.

Instead of showing gratitude to these Africans, most Nigerians especially that is livewire of some African airlines, they are taken for fools which is why countries like Nigeria and Ghana must have their national carriers.

Sadly too, the British Carriers, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airlines are not different from the African Airlines with their own crazy and exorbitant fares. This writer’s investigations reveal that the two British Airlines are selling the lowest economy tickets for as high as $5,000 for a journey of 6hrs, 30 minutes.

The Middle East or the Gulf Airlines are not different too as their fares are almost the same as the African Airlines.

Without a doubt, a fair fare can potentially alleviate the financial burden on travellers. It’s important for airlines to prioritize the facilitation of seamless travel within Africa and still striving for affordability and connectivity while ensuring their operations remain sustainable.

In the last 24 hours, the cheapest airline to Europe at a little over $1000 is KLM/Air France and almost $300 dollars less than any African airlines.

For most Sub Sahara travellers, they must have a transit Schengen Visa or American Visa to be able to travel through Europe; hence the reason the likes of Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Egypt Air are extorting Africans.

As the executive director of African Travel Commission [ATC], www.africantravelcommission.org that is promoting the continent, researching for opportunities in the travel and tourism; as well as, advocating for fair air fares, I will advise African countries to have their national carriers, no matter how small it might be for the convenient, economical and pride of the nationals. 

By Lucky Onoriode George, Executive Director, African Travel Commission [ATC]