₦airaland Forum

The Airline Operators of Nigeria has warned that domestic airlines may suspend operations nationwide from April 20, if the rising cost of aviation fuel is not urgently addressed.

In a letter issued to journalists on Wednesday, dated April 14, 2026, and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, the President of AON, Abdulmunaf Sarina, said the surge in the price of Jet A1 had become unbearable for operators.

The letter read, “Our letter dated March 30, 2026, on the above subject matter refers. Permit us to further bring to your notice that the price of Jet A1 as sold by marketers has risen significantly from the initial N900/litre as at February 28, 2026, to N3,300/litre as of today.

“This represents an increase of over 300%. This astronomical and artificial increase is not commensurate with the rise in crude oil prices and is well above international market benchmarks, which reflect approximately a 30% increase in crude oil cost.”



The airline operators said they had continued to operate for weeks despite the financial strain.

“For the past four weeks, airlines have endured this burden and continued operations out of patriotism and in the spirit of service to the nation. However, the situation has now become unbearable and clearly unsustainable,” the letter stated.

AON added that revenue generated by airlines was no longer enough to cover the cost of fuel, which represents only one component of operational expenses.

“Currently, airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone, which is only one of many operational expenses incurred daily. The situation continues to deteriorate,” it said.

The group accused fuel marketers of threatening the survival of the aviation sector and warned of wider economic implications if the situation persists.

The operators stated, “The actions of fuel marketers are effectively decimating the aviation industry and putting the nation’s economy, safety, and security at risk, as airlines are gradually being forced to suspend operations.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this arbitrary increase has already severely impacted one airline, forcing it to ground all operations since March 13, 2026. This may become inevitable for other airlines if the situation does not change immediately.”

The operators further noted that aviation remains critical to national development and warned that the continued rise in fuel prices could trigger severe consequences for the economy.


The operators noted, “Aviation remains a sector of strategic national importance. The continued arbitrary rise in jet fuel prices is both unhealthy and detrimental to national well-being. Airlines are now facing existential threats, with serious consequences for the broader economy.”

According to AON, raising ticket fares to cover fuel costs could reduce passenger demand, while shutting down operations would have broader economic consequences.

“If ticket prices are adjusted to reflect the current cost of aviation fuel, flights will operate with low passenger loads. Conversely, if airlines cease operations, financial institutions will be impacted, millions of livelihoods will be lost, and insecurity may increase,” the operators said.

The association therefore appealed to the marketers to review the price of Jet A1 in line with global market realities.

“We therefore urge you to prevail on marketers to proportionately adjust jet fuel prices in line with international market realities, as airlines can no longer sustain purchases at the current exorbitant rates.”

The group warned that airlines may be forced to halt operations if the situation persists.

“Accordingly, we hereby give notice that if this trend persists, all airlines in Nigeria will be compelled to suspend operations effective Monday, April 20, 2026. This serves as our final appeal,” it said

Copies of the letter were also sent to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services.

The sharp rise in aviation fuel, also known as Jet A1, has been driven by a combination of global and domestic factors, including fluctuations in crude oil prices, foreign exchange constraints, and supply chain challenges.

In Nigeria, the situation has been worsened by the deregulation of the downstream oil sector, which allows market forces to determine fuel prices, as well as limited local refining capacity, forcing marketers to rely heavily on imports.

Industry stakeholders have also pointed to distribution bottlenecks, logistics costs, and the influence of a few dominant suppliers as contributing factors to the steep price increase.

budaatum:
Are the Airline Operators of Nigeria aware this is global?

alsudan:
No go better for anybody supporting APC

brain54:
Na Nigeria things dey always different...


Some countries even in Africa like Ghana are paying part of the energy costs to help subsidize the effects of increasing costs of fuel.


Nigeria always doing the opposite of everything!

brain54:
Na Nigeria things dey always different...


Some countries even in Africa like Ghana are paying part of the energy costs to help subsidize the effects of increasing costs of fuel.


Nigeria always doing the opposite of everything!

nairalanda1:
Na so, and na true, but this isn;t just Nigeria...same issues around the world. Governments are responding with tax cuts for now.

adamkkk:
And some people are still supporting this govt

budaatum:
Are the Airline Operators of Nigeria aware this is global?

anonimi:
Petrol should never cost more than N70 per litre, says APC

January 19, 2015

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as mere tokenism the reduction of petrol price from N97 to N87 per litre, saying the petroleum product ordinarily should sell for N70.

On Sunday, the federal government announced the reduction of petrol price, citing the fall of global crude oil price.

But the APC through Lai Mohammed, its spokesman, on Monday accused the government of making a show out of deceit, saying “a 10.3 per cent slash in the price of petrol was a mere tokenism at a time the price of crude oil has crashed by about 60 per cent”.

It argued that the pump price of a litre of petrol should not be more than 70 Naira, alleging that at N87 per litre, the government was forcing Nigerians to subsidise the massive corruption in the oil sector by N17 for every litre of fuel.

https://www.thecable.ng/petrol-never-cost-n70-per-litre-says-apc/

adamkkk:
And some people are still supporting this govt

alsudan:
This isnt just Nigeria as you say, but what has the Government done to ease these shocks on its citizens. No Tax Cuts, No Increase in Wage, No Subsidies, NOTHING!!

Flangelo12:
They always pretend.

Deceitful people.

alsudan:
This isnt just Nigeria as you say, but what has the Government done to ease these shocks on its citizens. No Tax Cuts, No Increase in Wage, No Subsidies, NOTHING!!

alsudan:
No go better for anybody supporting APC.

A Nigerian earning 70k minimum wage has to save 3 Months Salary, just to fly one way from Abuja to Lagos.

anonimi:
The government that is enjoying the windfall of higher oil price from the war.

How did we allow this most destructive and devilish people in our government

iwaeda:
Eleven years now, APC has been in charge and ran this country worse than those they called clueless.

nairalanda1:
Yes because decades of government of freebies has left us with a massive debt that prevents us from doing any subsides like before

Plus even if government decides to do subsidy, the money will come from borrowing. Because no provision in the budget

Plus oil prices may also still rise. That increases costs of subsidy and leads to more borrowing.

Blame your leaders for not taking us off oil

alsudan:
No go better for anybody supporting APC.

A Nigerian earning 70k minimum wage has to save 3 Months Salary, just to fly one way from Abuja to Lagos.

Precious201010:
3 months? Do the maths well, it's up to 4 months... Aren't you going to take cab to the airport?