The crisis surrounding Jet A1 aviation fuel has intensified, with indigenous airlines issuing fresh warnings that continued price hikes could force them to suspend operations within days. The operators are urgently calling for government intervention to avert a complete halt in flight services.
Operators Sound Alarm
In separate interviews, airline executives highlighted that the cost of Jet A1 has surged to unprecedented levels, severely straining their ability to maintain flight schedules despite efforts to keep fares stable. The Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), Osita Okonkwo, urged the Federal Government to provide concessions to help carriers weather the difficult period.
Chibuike Uloka, Public Relations Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, stated that while the airline has not yet reduced flight frequencies, operations have become increasingly challenging. He revealed that the company is diverting funds from maintenance budgets to purchase fuel. “If the current situation persists, no airline will be able to continue operating in the next few days,” Uloka warned.
Impact on Flight Operations
Air Peace’s Communications Manager, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, confirmed that domestic frequencies remain unchanged, but delays have become more common due to fuel sourcing difficulties. However, he noted that the airline has scaled back its Abuja-London route from seven weekly flights to just three, citing high fuel costs. Specifically, the Abuja-Gatwick service has been reduced from three times weekly to once, and Abuja-Heathrow from twice weekly. Full operations are expected to resume on June 1, 2026, pending an improvement in the fuel situation.
Ibom Air reported that its fuel costs have surged by over 350 percent in the past two months, making current operations unsustainable. The airline emphasized that without immediate relief, the entire aviation sector faces a severe crisis.
Call for Government Action
Industry stakeholders are calling on the government to step in with measures such as tax breaks, subsidies, or price controls to stabilize the Jet A1 market. The operators argue that the escalating costs not only threaten airline viability but also risk disrupting travel and commerce across Nigeria.
