Nigeria’s Domestic Air Passenger Traffic Climbs to 13.09 Million in 2025 Despite Economic Headwinds – FAAN
Amid persistent economic headwinds, domestic air passenger traffic in Nigeria rose to 13.09 million in 2025, underlining the country’s deepening reliance on air travel for business and leisure.
Figures contained in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) 2025 passenger traffic analysis report show that domestic movements climbed from 12.54 million in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.33 per cent. The data signal sustained demand on key internal routes despite escalating operating costs and broader household financial pressures.
Domestic travel remained the dominant segment, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all passenger movements recorded across Nigerian airports. Total passenger throughput nationwide grew by 5.9 per cent, from 16.94 million in 2024 to 17.94 million in 2025. Of this, domestic travellers made up 72.96 per cent, while international passengers constituted 27.04 per cent.
International traffic expanded at a quicker pace, rising 10.26 per cent from 4.40 million in 2024 to 4.85 million in 2025, as the global recovery in air travel demand continued. According to FAAN, domestic passenger numbers suffered a setback between 2022 and 2023 before returning to growth in 2024 and sustaining that momentum through 2025; international traffic has followed a steadier upward trajectory over the same period.
Industry players say the latest data reaffirm aviation’s central role in linking Nigeria’s commercial hubs and state capitals. The busiest air corridors remain those connecting Lagos with other major cities, especially Abuja, the nation’s political and administrative centre.
Speaking on domestic flight operations, Remi Jibodu, Acting Chief Operating Officer of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited and Head of Aeronautical and Cargo Services, disclosed that Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) in Lagos now handles between 60 and 65 flight departures daily. He noted that the Lagos-Abuja route is the busiest domestic corridor, driven by high volumes of government, corporate and business travel. Asaba and Port Harcourt also rank among the terminal’s most active destinations.
The 2025 figures come against a backdrop of broader 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 in 2023. International cargo operations increased by 11.31 per cent to roughly 150 million kilogrammes, while aircraft movements rose 7.69 per cent.
Domestic operations faced temporary headwinds in 2024, with passenger numbers contracting 6.46 per cent from 13.37 million in 2023 to 12.5 million, and domestic aircraft movements declining by 6.81 per cent. The robust rebound observed in 2025 suggests renewed traveller confidence and strengthening demand for local air services.
Nigeria’s aviation market is also reinforcing its position on the continent. Data from OAG show the country had more than one million available one-way departing airline seats scheduled for June 2026, a 21.3 per cent increase compared with the same month in 2025. In the domestic segment, Nigeria ranked second in Africa for airline seat capacity, behind only South Africa. Domestic seat capacity surged 21.7 per cent year-on-year to 730,216 seats, positioning the country as one of the continent’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
Although Egypt, Morocco and Ethiopia maintain larger overall aviation sectors, the latest numbers highlight accelerating airline activity and rising passenger demand in Nigeria. The FAAN report confirms that domestic travel remains the engine of the country’s aviation industry, even as international traffic recovers at a faster clip.