Nigeria’s domestic airline operators have warned that flight operations across the country may be suspended from Monday, April 20, 2026, over what they described as an unbearable rise in aviation fuel prices.
The warning was issued by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) in a letter dated April 14, 2026, addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Mr. Clement Isong.
The operators said the price of Jet A1 fuel had jumped sharply from about N900 per litre in February to approximately N3,300 per litre within weeks, describing the increase as “astronomical and unsustainable.”
They argued that the spike was “artificial” and not in line with global oil market trends, noting that international crude prices had risen by only about 30 per cent over the same period.
According to the AON, airlines have continued to operate under severe pressure for weeks out of patriotism and commitment to national service, but warned that the situation has now become unmanageable.
“Airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone,” the group stated, adding that the current cost structure was threatening the survival of the aviation sector.
The operators further warned that continued escalation of fuel prices could cripple the industry, with wider consequences for Nigeria’s economy, mobility, and security.
They disclosed that at least one airline had already grounded its operations since March 13, 2026, due to fuel costs, adding that more carriers may follow if urgent intervention is not made.
“Aviation remains a sector of strategic national importance,” the letter stated, stressing that the pricing regime was “unhealthy and detrimental to national wellbeing.”
The group outlined the difficult choices facing airlines, noting that increasing fares could reduce passenger demand, while shutting down operations would have severe ripple effects across multiple sectors.
They warned that a nationwide shutdown would affect financial institutions, disrupt livelihoods, and potentially worsen insecurity.
The AON therefore called on MEMAN to urgently intervene and ensure that jet fuel prices are adjusted in line with global market realities, insisting that airlines could no longer sustain current operating costs.
“Accordingly, we hereby give notice that if this trend persists, all airlines in Nigeria will be compelled to suspend operations effective Monday, April 20, 2026. This serves as our final appeal,” the letter stated.
Copies of the letter were sent to top government officials, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and the Department of State Services.
The development has heightened concerns over the stability of Nigeria’s aviation sector, with stakeholders awaiting possible government and industry responses in the coming days
