*The Airline Operators of Nigeria have complained they kept deploying and subsidising aviation services to Nigerian flying public in the past four months despite the steady and astronomical hike in the price of JetA-1 and other operating costs in the industry

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Again, citing an increase in cost of Jet A-1 and related operational expenses, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have announced suspension of their operations effective Monday, May 9, 2022.

绿帽献妻 reports the domestic airlines, including Azman Air, Max Air, United Nigeria Airways, Ibom Air, Arik Air, Air Peace, Dana Air and Overland Airways, disclosed this development in a letter signed by Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, President of AON.

Hadi Sirika, Honourable Minister for Aviation

Nine other Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the Nigerian airline operators also endorsed the letter addressed to Hadi Sirika, Honourable Minister for Aviation, and copied to Captain Musa Nuhu, Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The airlines said: 鈥淚t is with a great sense of responsibility and patriotism that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have carried on deploying and subsidising their services to our highly esteemed Nigerian flying public in the last four months despite the steady and astronomical hike in the price of JetA1 and other operating costs.鈥�

The association, again, noted the aviation fuel price (Jet A-1) had risen from N190 per litre to N700.

The AON also stated that no airline in the world can absorb the astronomical hike and continue in business.

The airlines said with the current fuel hike, it has increased its fuel cost component from 40% to 95% in Nigeria and also affected the cost of a seat per head which should be at least N120,000.

Aircraft Jet A-1 refuelling

It further said: 鈥淚n the face of this, airlines have engaged the Federal Government, the National Assembly, NNPC and Oil Marketers with the view to bringing the cost of JetA-1 down which has currently made the unit cost per seat for a one hour flight in Nigeria today to an average of N120,000.

鈥淭he latter cannot be fully passed to passengers who are already experiencing a lot of difficulties.

鈥淲hile 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 fuel has continued to rise unabated thereby creating huge pressure on the sustainability of operations and financial viability of the airlines. This is unsustainable and the airlines can no longer absorb the pressure.鈥�

The airline opertors stated: 鈥淭o this end, therefore, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) hereby wishes to regrettably inform the general public that member airlines will discontinue operations nationwide with effect from Monday May 9, 2022 until further notice.

鈥淎ON uses this medium to humbly state that we regret any inconveniences this very difficult decision might cause and appeal to travellers to kindly reconsider their travel itinerary and make alternative arrangements.鈥�

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