Domestic airline owners under the umbrella of Airline Operators of Nigeria on Wednesday threatened to seize operations if the price of Aviation fuel otherwise known as Jet A1 is not reduced from the current N3,300 per liter.
The operators in a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary/ Executive Officer of Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Clement Isong, called for an urgent proportional review of the product price.
The letter read in part “Our letter dated March 30, 2026, on the above subject matter refers; Permit us to further bring to your notice that the price of Jet A1 as sold by marketers has risen significantly from the initial ₦900/litre as at February 28, 2026, to ₦3,300/litre as at today.
According to them, “This represents an increase of over 300%. This astronomical and artificial increase is not commensurate with the rise in crude oil prices and is well above international market benchmarks, which reflect approximately a 30% increase in crude oil cost.”
“For the past four (4) weeks, airlines have endured this burden and continued operations out of patriotism and in the spirit of service to the nation. However, the situation has now become unbearable and clearly unsustainable.”
While lamenting the adverse effects of the development on operating costs, AON said “Currently, airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone, which is only one of many operational expenses incurred daily. The situation continues to deteriorate.”
An electronic document made available to journalists and signed by AON President Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa noted that “For the avoidance of doubt, this arbitrary increase has already severely impacted one airline, forcing it to ground all operations since March 13, 2026. This may become inevitable for other airlines if the situation does not change immediately,” they explained.
“We therefore urge you to prevail on marketers to proportionately adjust jet fuel prices in line with international market realities, as airlines can no longer sustain purchases at the current exorbitant rates.”
