The body of domestic airline operators in Nigeria, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has appealed to marketers of Jet A1 fuel Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) in the country to review the price of the product downward or push the country to a situation where every domestic airline operating in the country shutdown.
AON said this on Wednesday March 15, 2026 in its letter titled: URGENT CALL FOR PROPORTIONATE REVIEW OF JET A1 PRICE, addressed to MEMAN.
According to the airline operators, ” we therefore urge you to prevail on marketers to proportionately adjust jet fuel prices in line with international market realities, as airlines can no longer sustain purchases at the current exorbitant rates.
“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 airline operators who alleged that the Jet A1 marketers have increased the price of airlines’ daily operation input by 300 percent within the last three months beyond 30 percent obtained globally, threatened that should their services be withdrawn, the nation’s economy will suffer significantly while the financial sector would suffer more pains.
In the letter, AON claimed that as at February 28, 2026, the price of a litre of Jet A1 was N900, but suddenly jumped up to N3000 per litre on April 13, 2926. A price AON claimed does not reflect the current reality on the price of crude oil and Jet A1 which rose by 30 percent since the escalation of US-Israel- Iran war began.
“Our letter dated March 30, 2026, on the above subject matter refers.
“Permit us to further bring to your notice that the price of Jet A1 as sold by marketers has risen significantly from the initial ₦900/litre as at February 28, 2026, to ₦3,300/litre as at today. This represents an increase of over 300%. This astronomical and artificial increase is not commensurate with the rise in crude oil prices and is well above international market benchmarks, which reflect approximately a 30% increase in crude oil cost.,” AON alleged
The airline operators who insisted that they cam no longer continue to bear the unwarranted burden brought on them by shylock Jet A1 dealers, reasoned that they on their part have shown much patriotism to the Nigeria by operating at loss since the unwarranted hike in the price of Jet A1 began.
“For the past four (4) weeks, airlines have endured this burden and continued operations out of patriotism and in the spirit of service to the nation. However, the situation has now become unbearable and clearly unsustainable.,” AON lamented.
The body of airline operators in Nigeria also alleged that high cost of Jet A1 has astronomically increased their cost of operations and eroded their current revenue; making sustainable operations impossible. A situation it alleged has decimated the aviation industry and putting the nation’s economy in jeopardy.
“Currently, airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone, which is only one of many operational expenses incurred daily. The situation continues to deteriorate.
“The actions of fuel marketers are effectively decimating the aviation industry and putting the nation’s economy, safety, and security at risk, as airlines are gradually being forced to suspend operations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this arbitrary increase has already severely impacted one airline, forcing it to ground all operations since March 13, 2026. This may become inevitable for other airlines if the situation does not change immediately,” stated AON
According to AON, “Aviation remains a sector of strategic national importance. The continued arbitrary rise in jet fuel prices is both unhealthy and detrimental to national wellbeing. Airlines are now facing existential threats, with serious consequences for the broader economy.”
The airline operators which submitted that passenger patronage will drop if its members adjust the prices of theur air to reflect the present arbitrary hike in the price of Jet A1, also claimed that if airlines cease operations financial institutions will be negatively affected.
“If ticket prices are adjusted to reflect the current cost of aviation fuel, flights will operate with low passenger loads. Conversely, if airlines cease operations, financial institutions will be impacted, millions of livelihoods will be lost, and insecurity may increase,” AON averred.
