Operators warn flights may halt from April 20 as aviation fuel jumps from ₦900 to over ₦3,300 per litre in weeks

Nigeria’s domestic airlines have issued a stark warning of a possible nationwide shutdown, citing an unprecedented spike in aviation fuel (Jet A1) prices that has pushed operations to the brink of collapse.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) say the cost of jet fuel has skyrocketed from around ₦900 per litre to over ₦3,300 per litre within just a few weeks—an increase of more than 300%, which they describe as unsustainable and disconnected from global crude oil trends.

According to the group, while international crude prices rose by roughly 30% over the same period, Nigerian airlines are facing a far steeper and crippling domestic fuel surge that is rapidly eroding revenue and making operations financially unviable.

Despite continued flights amid rising losses, the operators warned that they may be forced to suspend services nationwide from April 20, 2026, if urgent intervention is not taken.

Such a shutdown, stakeholders warn, would trigger widespread disruption across the country, affecting passengers, businesses, supply chains, and economic activity, while also putting thousands of aviation jobs at risk.

The airlines are calling on government authorities and fuel marketers to urgently step in to stabilise Jet A1 prices, stressing that the current trajectory poses an existential threat to Nigeria’s aviation industry.