By Peter Effiom
Due to the ongoing increase in the cost of Jet A1, Airline carriers of Nigeria (AON), the country’s domestic airline carriers, have threatened to cease operations on April 20. The pricing of JET AI, commonly referred to as aviation fuel, is described as predatory.
On Wednesday, April 15, AON president, Abdulmunaf Sarina, signed a notice in Lagos, addressed to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria. Copies of the notice were also sent to President Bola Tinubu, Festus Keyamo, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
According to Sarina, the cost of a litre of Jet A1 has risen by 300% to N3,300 from approximately N900 in late February.
He claims that the hike, which was prompted by marketers, has greatly increased the operational costs of airlines. He pointed out that the increase did not correspond with trends in the price of crude oil around the world, which show an increase of almost 30%.
According to Sarina, airlines have maintained operations over the last four weeks in spite of growing expenses out of a sense of duty to the country.
But he claimed that the scenario was no longer viable. Fuel is just one of the several operational costs incurred on a daily basis, and airline revenues are now insufficient to pay it.
He claims that while a shutdown would have an impact on employment, financial institutions, and national security, changing ticket prices to reflect current fuel costs would result in fewer passengers.
Fuel marketers’ activities are endangering the country’s economy, safety, and security as well as the aviation sector by forcing airlines to think about suspending operations.
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