Nigeria’s domestic air travel rises to 13.09 million passengers in 2025 – FAAN

Domestic air passenger traffic in Nigeria climbed to 13.09 million in 2025, reflecting a growing dependence on air travel for business and leisure despite persistent economic pressures on households and businesses. The figures were published in the 2025 passenger traffic analysis report by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The report shows that domestic passenger numbers increased by 4.33 per cent, from 12.54 million in 2024 to 13.09 million in 2025, indicating sustained demand on key domestic routes even as operational costs in the sector continued to climb. Domestic travel remains the dominant segment, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all passenger movements recorded across the country’s airports during the year.

Total passenger traffic across Nigerian airports rose from 16.94 million in 2024 to 17.94 million in 2025, representing an overall growth of 5.9 per cent. While domestic traffic maintained its large share, international travel expanded at an even faster pace. International passenger volumes surged 10.26 per cent, from 4.40 million in 2024 to 4.85 million in 2025, as global travel demand continued its post-pandemic recovery.

Of the total air traffic in 2025, domestic passengers made up 72.96 per cent, while international travellers accounted for 27.04 per cent. FAAN noted that domestic traffic had dipped between 2022 and 2023, returned to growth in 2024, and sustained that momentum through 2025. International passenger numbers, meanwhile, followed a more consistent upward trajectory over the same period.

Industry stakeholders say the latest data underline the vital role aviation plays in linking Nigeria’s major commercial hubs and state capitals. The busiest corridors remain those connecting Lagos with other large cities, particularly Abuja, the nation’s political and administrative centre.

Offering operational insight, Remi Jibodu, Acting Chief Operating Officer of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited and Head of Aeronautical and Cargo Services, stated that Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) in Lagos now handles between 60 and 65 flight departures daily. He identified the Lagos–Abuja route as the busiest domestic air corridor, driven by the heavy volume of government, corporate and business travel between the two cities. Asaba and Port Harcourt also rank among the most active destinations served from the terminal.

The latest passenger figures sit within a broader picture of recovery and expansion in Nigeria’s aviation sector. In 2024, international passenger traffic at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos grew by 6.5 per cent to 4.3 million, up from 4.04 million recorded in 2023. International cargo operations expanded by 11.31 per cent to approximately 150 million kilograms, while aircraft movements rose by 7.69 per cent. Domestic operations, however, faced headwinds that year, with passenger volumes declining 6.46 per cent from 13.37 million in 2023 to 12.5 million, and domestic aircraft movements falling by 6.81 per cent. The strong rebound in 2025 suggests a restoration of traveller confidence and firmer demand for local air services.

Nigeria’s aviation market is also consolidating its position within Africa. According to industry data from OAG, Nigeria recorded more than one million available one-way departing airline seats in June 2026, a 21.3 per cent increase compared with June 2025. In domestic seat capacity, Nigeria ranked second on the continent behind South Africa, with a 21.7 per cent year-on-year rise to 730,216 seats, making it one of Africa’s fastest-growing aviation markets. Although Egypt, Morocco and Ethiopia still maintain larger overall aviation markets, the figures point to intensifying airline activity and rising passenger demand in Nigeria.

The FAAN report confirms that domestic travel remains the backbone of the country’s aviation industry, even as international travel recovers at a quicker pace.