Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON says, all flight operations in the country will be grounded from Monday May 9, 2022 till further notice.
They hinged the development on the continuous astronomical rise in the price of aviation fuel popularly called JET A1.
However, a domestic airline, Green Africa is not a signatory to the decision taken by the AON to suspend their operations from next week Monday.
President of the Association, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa says, they cannot continue to prerend that all is well when their operating cost has hit 95% as against 40% globally.
“Overtime, aviation fuel price (JetA1) has risen from N190 per litre to N700 currently. No airline in the world can absorb this kind of sudden shock from such an astronomical rise over a short period. While aviation fuel worldwide is said to cost about 40% of an airline’s operating cost globally, the present hike has shut up Nigeria’s operating cost to about 95%”.
In a statement jointly signed by 9 domestic operators, the operators regret any inconveniences this difficult decision might cause and appeal to travelers to kindly reconsider their travel itinerary and make alternative arrangements.
According to them, efforts of government has failed to yield the desired results and in the last four months they have continued to deploy and subsidize their services to the Nigerian flying publi despite the steady and astronomical hike in the price of JetA1 and other operating costs.
“In the face of this, airlines engaged the Federal Government, the National Assembly, NNPC and Oil Marketers with the view to bringing the cost of JetA1 down which has currently made the unit cost per seat for a one hour flight in Nigeria today to an average of N120,000. The latter cannot be fully passed to passengers who are already experiencing a lot of difficulties”.
While appreciating the efforts of the current government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure air transport in Nigeria grows, AON stated that, “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”.
The statement Signed by Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa, President AON copied the Minister of Aviation and Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
Other operators who appended theie signature to the statement include, Alhaji Shehu Wada – Executive Director, Max Air, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo – Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines Capt. Mfon Udom – CEO, Ibom Air, and Capt. Roy Ilegbodu – CEO, Arik Air.
Others are, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood – CEO, Aero Contractors, Alhaji Faisal Abdulmunaf – MD, Azman Air, Capt. Edward Boyo – CEO, Overland Airways, Sukh Mann – Deputy CEO, Dana Air and Barr. Allen Onyema, Chairman, Air Peace and Vice President, AON.
