NIGERIA’S international aviation market is heavily influenced by foreign airlines, which account for roughly 90% of passenger traffic. In 2025, the country saw 4.85 million international passengers, predominantly traveling to Europe.
Concerns have been raised about this dominance, particularly how foreign carriers contribute significantly to aviation agency revenues.
Experts advocate for the establishment of national flag carriers and reforms in the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to increase local airline participation.
Though there are a few Nigerian airlines like Air Peace gaining international access, challenges such as flight reliability and operational capacity hinder competitiveness against well-established foreign counterparts.
Emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure and investment, experts call for a transparent route allocation process to motivate local airlines to enhance their services for international competition.