Airline operators threaten shutdown as jet fuel hits ₦3,300 – THIS

By Ayo Kehinde

Nigeria’s aviation sector is heading for a complete shutdown as national airlines have warned that flight operations will cease nationwide from April 20, 2026, if the Jet A1’s soaring fuel costs are not urgently addressed.

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) issued the warning in a letter dated April 14, 2026, addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Clement Isong, over what they described as an “astronomical and unsustainable” spike in aviation fuel prices.

According to operators, Jet A1 fuel has risen dramatically from ₦900 per liter on February 28 to ₦3,300 per liter in just a few weeks – a jump of more than 300% that they say has made normal airline operations financially impossible.

AON insisted that the increase is “artificial” and not in line with global market trends, pointing out that international crude oil prices have only increased by around 30% over the same period. The disparity, he says, raises serious concerns about price distortions in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.

Airline operators said they continued flying for more than four weeks despite mounting losses, absorbing the cost in what they described as a commitment to national service. However, they warned that the burden has now become unbearable.

“Airline revenues are not enough to cover the cost of fuel alone,” the association said, adding that Jet A1 costs now consume the majority of operating expenses, leaving carriers unable to meet other critical obligations such as maintenance, staff salaries, insurance and regulatory burdens.

The group further revealed that the crisis has already started to be felt, revealing that a national airline has suspended operations from March 13, 2026, due to rising fuel costs. He warned that other carriers could follow if urgent intervention is not carried out.

AON warned that the collapse of airline operations would have serious knock-on effects on Nigeria’s economy, including disruption to business travel, cargo movement, financial services and government logistics. It also warned of potential job losses along the aviation value chain.

Operators stressed that aviation is a sector of strategic importance at the national level, adding that continued price increases threaten both economic stability and national mobility.

They also outlined the dilemma facing airlines: Raising ticket fares could collapse passenger demand in an already weakened economy, while continuing operations at current fuel costs would exacerbate financial losses. Suspension of services, they said, is now the only viable option.

“Accordingly, we advise that if this trend persists, all airlines in Nigeria will be forced to suspend operations effective Monday 20 April 2026. This constitutes our final appeal,” the letter reads.

Copies of the correspondence were sent to President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), underlining the seriousness of the warning.

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