Nigerian Airlines Threaten Shutdown Over Soaring Jet Fuel Costs

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has issued a stark warning that domestic flight operations across the country could be suspended from April 20 due to the escalating cost of aviation fuel.
In a notice dated April 14, AON President, Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, alerted the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, to the dire situation confronting the industry. Copies of the notice were also sent to President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The association revealed that the price of Jet A1 fuel has surged dramatically from N900 per litre as of February 28 to N3,300 per litre—an increase of over 300 percent. AON described the hike as “astronomical and artificial,” stressing that it does not align with global crude oil price trends, which have risen by only about 30 percent within the same period.

According to the group, airlines have continued operations over the past four weeks despite mounting losses, driven by a sense of national duty and commitment to service. However, it noted that the situation has now reached a breaking point.

“For the past four weeks, airlines have endured this burden and continued operations out of patriotism however, the situation has now become unbearable and clearly unsustainable,” the notice stated.

AON further lamented that current airline revenues are no longer sufficient to cover the cost of aviation fuel alone, let alone other operational expenses, warning that the crisis is rapidly worsening.

The group accused fuel marketers of actions that are “decimating” the aviation sector, cautioning that continued price hikes could cripple the industry and pose significant risks to the nation’s economy, safety, and security.