Nigerian Airlines Warn of Domestic Flight Suspension Over Fuel Surge

Nigeria's airline operators have issued a stark warning that they may suspend all domestic flights starting April 20, 2026, unless the price of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1, is urgently reduced to sustainable levels. The threat, outlined in a letter dated April 14 and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, highlights a more than 300 percent surge in fuel costs that has pushed the industry to the brink of collapse.

According to the Airline Operators of Nigeria, or AON, the price of Jet A1 has skyrocketed from 900 naira per liter as of February 28 to 3,300 naira per liter in recent weeks. This increase far exceeds the roughly 30 percent rise in international crude oil prices over the same period, which AON described as artificial and not aligned with global market realities. The group, representing major domestic carriers, stated that airlines have absorbed the escalating costs for over four weeks out of a sense of national responsibility, but revenues now fall short of covering fuel expenses alone, let alone other operational costs. Aviation fuel accounts for more than 40 percent of an airline's total...