The Airline Operators of Nigeria has raised the alarm over the astronomical rise in the price of aviation fuel, warning that domestic flight operations across the country may be suspended starting from April 20, 2026, if the situation remains unaddressed. The umbrella body for domestic carriers stated that the persistent and sharp increase in the cost of Jet A1 has reached a level that is no longer sustainable for its members, threatening the continued viability of the entire aviation sub-sector.
In a notice signed on Wednesday in Lagos by the President of the association, Dr Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, the operators disclosed that the price of aviation fuel has surged by 300 per cent in just two months. According to the association, the product which sold for approximately 900 Naira per litre in February is currently being sold by marketers for as much as 3,300 Naira per litre. Sarina pointed out that this massive increase is largely driven by fuel marketers and does not align with global crude oil price trends, which have only reflected a 30 per cent increase within the same period.
The association noted that while domestic airlines have continued to operate over the last four weeks despite the crippling costs out of a sense of national responsibility, the financial burden has become unbearable. Sarina explained that current revenues generated by airlines are no longer sufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone, which is just one of the many daily operational expenses incurred by carriers. He warned that the actions of fuel marketers are putting the nation’s economy, safety and security at risk, as airlines are being left with no choice but to consider a total shutdown of their operations.
To highlight the severity of the crisis, the association revealed that at least one domestic airline has already been forced to suspend its operations since March 13 due to the high cost of fuel. The operators cautioned that the situation could deteriorate further if the government and relevant stakeholders do not take immediate action to bring the prices down. According to the notice, any attempt to adjust ticket prices upwards to reflect the current fuel costs would likely lead to a significant drop in passenger traffic, while a total suspension of flights would have devastating effects on jobs, the banking sector and national security.
The notice was addressed to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, with copies forwarded to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The association also alerted the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant bodies to the impending crisis, urging marketers to immediately adjust the price of jet fuel to reflect international market realities. The airlines maintained that they can no longer sustain the purchase of the product at current rates and called for an urgent intervention to prevent a total collapse of the domestic air travel network.
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