Nigerian airlines to ground all domestic flights as from Monday in response to high aviation fuel costs

NIGERIAN airline operators have issued a notice warning the general public that they will ground all their flights as from Monday May 9 and stop all domestic flights as a result of the exorbitant cost of aviation fuel.

Over the last few weeks, the price of petroleum products has soared across Nigeria, with the cost of petrol, kerosene, brake fluid, engine, oil and aviation fuel all soaring. With the price of aviation fuel now standing at N700 a litre, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), said they can no longer bear such costs.

AON president Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, said: "It is with a great sense of responsibility and patriotism that the AON  has carried on deploying and subsidising their services to our highly esteemed Nigerian flying public in the last four months despite the steady and astronomical hike in the price of JetA1 and other operating costs. Overtime, aviation fuel price (JetA1) has risen from N190 per litre to N700 currently.

"No airline in the world can absorb this kind of sudden shock from such an astronomical rise over a short period. While aviation fuel worldwide is said to cost about 40% of an airline’s operating cost globally, the present hike has shut up Nigeria’s operating cost to about 95%.

"In the face of this, airlines have engaged the federal government, the National Assembly, the NNPC and oil marketers with the view to bringing the cost of JetA1 down, which has currently made the unit cost per seat for a one hour flight in Nigeria today to an average of N120,000. The latter cannot be fully passed to passengers who are already experiencing a lot of difficulties.

“While AON appreciates the efforts of the current government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure air transport in Nigeria grows, unfortunately, the cost of aviation fuel has continued to rise unabated thereby creating huge pressure on the sustainability of operations and financial viability of the airlines. This is unsustainable and the airlines can no longer absorb the pressure.”

“To this end therefore, the AON)hereby wishes to regrettably inform the general public that member airlines will discontinue operations nationwide with effect from Monday May 9, 2022 until further notice. AON uses this medium to humbly state that we regret any inconveniences this very difficult decision might cause and appeal to travellers to kindly reconsider their travel itinerary and make alternative arrangements.”