The body in the management of all airlines in Nigeria, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has announced it will be shutting down all operations from Monday. This is the result of a current hike in the price of aviation fuel which has skyrocketed to never before seen prices, recently hitting an all-time high of ₦700 per litre.
The body wasn’t unsympathetic to the plight of Nigerians who would be left stranded via the choice but mentioned that things couldn’t continue as normal, as the purchase of gas has pushed up the value of operations by using over 95%.
In a letter sent to the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika through the President of the AON, the operators re-endorsed their statement, having acquired the assent and approval of the chief executives of all the domestic airlines.
It read: “It is with an extraordinary experience of accountability and patriotism that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have carried on deploying and subsidizing their services to our noticeably esteemed Nigerians flying public in the last 4 months, despite the steady and astronomical hike in the cost of Jet A1 gas and different operating costs.
“Over time, aviation fuel has risen from ₦190 per litre to its modern ₦700. No airline in the world can absorb this type of surprising shock of such an astronomical upward jab over a brief period. While aviation fuel undisputed is said to value around 40% of an airline’s running fee globally, the current hike has shot up Nigeria’s operating value to nearly 95%.
“In the face of this, airlines have engaged the Federal Government, the National Assembly, NNPC, and Oil Marketers with the view of bringing the value of Jet A1 down, which has presently made the unit cost per seat for a one-hour flight in Nigeria to an average of ₦120,000.
“The latter cannot be utterly surpassed by passengers who are already experiencing a lot of difficulties.
“While AON appreciates the efforts of the current government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure air transport in Nigeria grows, unfortunately, the cost of aviation gas has persisted to rise unabated thereby notifying the regular public that member airlines will discontinue operations nationwide with effect from May 9, 2022, till further notice.
“AON makes use of this medium to humbly state that we regret any inconveniences this very tough choice may cause and appeal to travellers to kindly reconsider their tour itinerary and make alternative arrangements.”
