AfriPulse
April 15, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s aviation sector is heading toward a complete shutdown as domestic airlines have warned that flight operations will cease nationwide from April 20, 2026, if the soaring cost of Jet A1 fuel is not addressed urgently.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) issued the warning in a letter dated April 14, 2026, addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Clement Isong, over what it described as an “astronomical and unsustainable” spike in aviation fuel prices.
According to the operators, Jet A1 fuel has risen sharply from ₦900 per litre as of February 28 to ₦3,300 per litre within weeks — a jump of over 300 per cent that they say has made normal airline operations financially impossible.
AON insisted that the increase is “artificial” and not in line with global market trends, noting that international crude oil prices rose by only about 30 per cent within the same period. The disparity, it argued, raises serious concerns about pricing distortions in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
The airline operators said they had continued flying for over four weeks despite mounting losses, absorbing the cost in what they described as a commitment to national service. However, they warned that the burden has now become unbearable.
“Airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone”, the association stated, adding that Jet A1 costs now consume the bulk of operating expenses, leaving carriers unable to meet other critical obligations such as maintenance, staff salaries, insurance, and regulatory charges.
The group further disclosed that the crisis has already begun to bite, revealing that one domestic airline has grounded operations since March 13, 2026, due to the escalating fuel cost. It warned that more carriers could follow if urgent intervention is not made.
AON cautioned that the collapse of airline operations would have severe ripple effects across Nigeria’s economy, including disruption of business travel, cargo movement, financial services, and government logistics. It also warned of potential job losses across the aviation value chain.
The operators stressed that aviation is a sector of strategic national importance, adding that continued price escalation threatens both economic stability and national mobility.
They further outlined the dilemma facing airlines: increasing ticket fares could crash passenger demand in an already weakened economy, while continued operations under current fuel costs would deepen financial losses. Suspension of services, they said, is now the only viable option.
“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”, the letter stated.
Copies of the correspondence were sent to President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Department of State Services (DSS), underscoring the seriousness of the warning.
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Source: TheWillNigeria | Read the Full Story…
