Nigeria’s aviation sector is on the brink of a major disruption as the Airline Operators of Nigeria has warned that domestic flights could be suspended starting April 20 due to the soaring cost of Jet A1, the fuel that keeps aircraft in the skies.
At the heart of the crisis is a dramatic price surge. According to AON President, Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, the cost of aviation fuel has jumped from about ₦900 per litre in February to a staggering ₦3,300 per litre—a 300 percent increase in just weeks.
For airlines already operating on tight margins, this spike has created a financial strain that is becoming impossible to manage. Fuel alone now consumes the bulk of operational costs, leaving little room to sustain other essential expenses required to keep flights running safely and efficiently.
Sarina pointed out that the rise in fuel prices does not align with global crude oil trends, which have seen only modest increases. This disconnect has raised concerns within the industry, with operators accusing marketers of driving unsustainable pricing.
Despite the pressure, airlines have continued flying in recent weeks out of what AON described as a sense of national responsibility. However, that patience appears to be running out. One airline has already suspended operations since March 13, a sign of what could become a wider industry shutdown if the situation persists.
The implications go beyond delayed or cancelled flights. A potential suspension of operations would affect thousands of jobs, disrupt business activities, strain financial institutions, and even pose risks to national security by limiting mobility across the country.
Airlines now face a difficult choice: increase ticket prices and risk losing passengers, or halt operations entirely. Neither option offers a sustainable path forward.
In its appeal, AON has called on fuel marketers to adjust prices in line with international realities, warning that the current trajectory could cripple the aviation sector.
With copies of the notice sent to key authorities, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, the industry is now waiting to see if urgent intervention will come before the looming deadline.
For now, uncertainty hangs in the air—quite literally.