The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has announced that the astronomical hike in Jet-A1 price and other operating costs will force indigenous airlines to discontinue operations nationwide from Monday until further notice.
The association President, Capt. Serina Abdulmunaf, made this known in a letter addressed to the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Friday in Lagos.
Abdulmunaf said unfortunately, the cost of aviation fuel had continued to rise unabated thereby creating huge pressure on the sustainability of operations and financial viability of the airlines.
He regretted that this was unsustainable and the airlines could no longer absorb the pressure.
Abdulmunaf explained that members had carried on deploying and subsidising their services to their esteemed flying public in the last four months despite the steady and astronomical hike in the price 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 per cent of an airline’s operating cost globally, the present hike has shut up Nigeria’s operating cost to about 95 per cent.
“In the face of this, airlines have engaged the Federal Government, the National Assembly, 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.
“However, the latter cannot be fully passed to passengers who are already experiencing a lot of difficulties,” he said.
Abdulmunaf noted that the members appreciate the efforts of the current government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure air transport in the country grows.
He, therefore uses the medium to humbly state that they regret any inconveniences this very difficult decision might cause.
The president appealed to travelers to kindly reconsider their travel itinerary and make alternative arrangements.
