Domestic airlines in Nigeria have threatened to suspend operations nationwide starting Monday, April 20, 2026, due to the steep rise in aviation fuel costs.
The warning was issued in a letter dated April 14, 2026, signed by the President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Abdulmunaf Sarina, and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Mr. Clement Isong. The correspondence was also copied to top government officials, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the AON, the price of Jet A1 has jumped from about N900 per liter as of February 28 to over N3,300 per liter, an increase of more than 300 percent.
The association described the situation as “unsustainable,” warning that airlines may be forced into a nationwide shutdown if urgent action is not taken.
“This is our final plea. If the current trend persists, all airlines in Nigeria will be forced to suspend operations with effect from Monday, April 20, 2026,” the AON said in its follow-up letter, referencing an earlier warning issued on March 30, 2026.
The operators said aviation fuel now accounts for over 40 percent of operating costs, severely eroding revenues and threatening the survival of the sector. They warned that passing the cost on to passengers would make ticket prices prohibitive.
“If we price our tickets to reflect the current price of aviation fuel, we will be flying empty planes,” the association said.
The AON also revealed that at least one airline has already suspended operations since March 13, 2026, cautioning that more could follow if the situation persists.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this arbitrary increase has already seriously impacted a particular airline and forced it to ground all its operations since March 13, 2026,” it added.
The association further accused fuel marketers of exploiting global tensions, particularly unrest in the Middle East, to justify inflated prices that, it argued, far exceed global market trends. While crude oil prices have risen by about 30 percent globally, the AON said Jet A1 prices in Nigeria have surged by over 300 percent.
Describing the development as a threat to the broader economy, the operators warned of widespread consequences should airlines shut down.
“If the airlines go out of business, banks will take a hit, millions will lose their means of livelihood, and insecurity will worsen,” the group said.
The AON urged immediate intervention to align domestic aviation fuel prices with global benchmarks and avert what it called an impending collapse of the sector.
