Domestic airlines under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have raised the alarm over the escalating cost of aviation fuel, warning that flight operations across the country may be suspended from April 20, 2026, if urgent action is not taken.
In a letter dated April 14, 2026, addressed to Clement Isong, Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, AON President Abdulmunaf Sarina described the spike in Jet A1 prices as “unbearable” and unsustainable for airline operators.
According to the association, aviation fuel has jumped from about N900 per litre in February 2026 to N3,300 per litre — a rise of over 300 percent.
The operators argued that the increase is inconsistent with global crude oil price movements, which they estimate at roughly a 30 percent rise within the same period.
AON noted that airlines have continued flying for weeks under intense financial strain, calling it a patriotic effort to keep Nigeria’s aviation sector functional.
However, the group stressed that current revenues can no longer cover fuel costs alone, warning that the situation is pushing the industry toward collapse.
“The situation continues to deteriorate,” the letter stated, adding that some operators have already shut down due to the mounting costs. The association described its warning as a “final appeal” for immediate intervention to prevent a total shutdown of domestic air travel.
Copies of the letter were also sent to President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and the Department of State Services.
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