Airlines Plan Nationwide Flight Shutdown as Fuel Prices Soar

Domestic airlines in Nigeria have announced plans to suspend flight operations across the country starting Thursday, April 30, 2026, over the escalating cost of aviation fuel.

Industry operators, under the umbrella of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), have been engaged in ongoing discussions with the Federal Government and fuel suppliers. However, negotiations have failed to yield a resolution, prompting airlines to consider grounding their fleets if urgent action is not taken.

The looming disruption is driven by a steep rise in the price of Jet A1 fuel, which has more than tripled since February. This surge has significantly increased operating costs, leaving airlines struggling to remain financially viable.

Passengers who rely on domestic flights for business and emergency travel may face major disruptions, as operators warn that services could be halted if fuel prices remain unchecked.

In a bid to address the situation, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently convened a meeting in Abuja with airline operators and fuel marketers. Despite efforts to broker a solution, the talks ended without agreement, with airlines insisting that more decisive measures are needed.

Following the meeting, the government introduced a 30 percent reduction in aviation taxes to ease the burden on operators. While the move was acknowledged, airlines argue that it does little to tackle the core issue of skyrocketing fuel costs.

Allen Onyema, Vice President of AON, stated that operators are under severe financial strain and called on fuel suppliers to justify the sudden spike in prices. He stressed that even with government concessions, sustaining operations under current conditions is increasingly difficult.

According to Onyema, aviation fuel prices have jumped from about ₦900 per litre to between ₦2,700 and ₦2,900, with some suppliers charging as high as ₦3,500 per litre. The sharp increase has forced airlines to allocate a large portion of their revenue to fuel expenses while still maintaining strict safety standards.

Airlines have also dismissed allegations of indebtedness to aviation agencies, maintaining that payments to organisations such as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) are up to date.

In a letter dated April 21 and signed by AON representative Abdulmunaf Sarina, operators urged the government to implement additional relief measures. These include suspending aviation-related taxes and charges for six months and permitting the introduction of a non-taxable fuel surcharge.