Airline operators in the country, on Friday, declared that member airlines would discontinue operations nationwide with effect from Monday, May 9, 2022 until further notice. This is as a result of the sudden hike in the price of aviation fuel, popularly called JetA1, from N190/litre to N700/litre.
In a letter to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, which was copied to the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Nuhu, they expresses their sadness at the lack of ability to sustain, as the airlines could no longer absorb the pressure.
The letter was signed by the President, Airline Operators of Nigeria, Abdulmunal Sarina, and the chief executives and chairmen of other airlines operating across the country.
The letter read in part, “It is with a great sense of responsibility and patriotism that the Airline Operators of Nigeria have 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.
The airlines stated that the cost of aviation fuel had currently made the unit cost per seat for a one-hour flight in Nigeria to an average of N120,000.
The association stated that it regretted any inconveniences the very difficult decision might cause and appealed to travellers to kindly reconsider their travel itineraries and make alternative arrangements.
AON however appreciates the efforts of the current government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that air transport in Nigeria grows.
When asked if the government would intervene in the matter, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, James Odaudu, stated that though he had yet to receive official communication on the issue, it was not the duty of the government to provide aviation fuel.
He explained that the airlines were private businesses and as such had been running their ventures independently, but noted that it was not out of place for them to seek help when necessary.