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Airline operators in Nigeria have warned of a potential nationwide shutdown of flight operations from April 20, 2026, citing a steep and unsustainable rise in the cost of aviation fuel.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, disclosed this in a letter dated April 14 and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, MEMAN, Clement Isong.
According to the AON, the price of Jet A1 fuel has surged from N900 per litre as of February 28 to N3,300 per litre, representing an increase of over 300 per cent within a few weeks.
The operators described the spike as “astronomical and unsustainable,” alleging that it is artificial and inconsistent with global oil market trends.
They noted that international crude oil prices have risen by only about 30 per cent within the same period.
The group said airlines have absorbed the rising costs for more than four weeks out of a sense of national duty but warned that the situation has become untenable.
“Airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone,” the letter stated, adding that continued operations under the current pricing regime are no longer viable.
AON further accused fuel marketers of actions that are “decimating the aviation industry,” warning of wider implications for Nigeria’s economy, safety, and national security.
The association revealed that the impact is already being felt, with at least one airline grounding operations since March 13 due to the fuel crisis. It cautioned that more carriers could suspend services if urgent intervention is not taken.
Describing aviation as a sector of strategic national importance, the group stressed that the prevailing fuel pricing structure is “unhealthy and detrimental to national wellbeing.”
Nigerian airlines threaten shutdown as jet fuel price jumps to N3,300/litre
