Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
As members of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) insisted on embarking on suspension of scheduled flight operations across their route network from Monday April 20, 2026, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Barrister Festus Keyamo SAN has appealed for restraint.
The Minister gave the appeal in a letter he personally signed and sent to the leadership of commercial airline operators in the country.
He appealed against the planned suspension of flight operations and increasing their air ticket fare to reflect the 300 percent increase in Jet Al prices, saying it would worsening the fragile situation of the economy.
“I write in reference to your correspondence dated April 14, 2026, concerning the operational challenges currently confronting your member airlines, especially the sudden hike in Jet A1 fuel from N900 per liter as at February 28, 2026 to N3.300 per liter as at today, representing a three hundred percent (300 %) increase,” said
Keyamo feared that a price hike may deny a lot of air travellers thevability to use airline’s services for their trips. He also pleaded against suspension of flight operations by airlines on their route networks, saying this may worsen the state of an already frigile economy.
He therefore called on the airline operators to exercise restraint on their intended actions and allow the efforts of federal government at addressing their grievances come to fruition.
In light of the foregoing, I am making the following appeals:
” First, I urge your members to exercise restraint with respect to any proposed increase in airfares at this time. While the prevailing cost pressures on your operations are fully acknowledged, any immediate upward adjustment in ticket prices would impose significant hardship on the travelling public, potentially depress demand, and limit accessibility to air transport for a broad segment of Nigerians.
“Secondly, I appeal for the reconsideration of any planned suspension of flight operations. Such action would have far-reaching adverse implications for the national economy, disrupt critical mobility and logistics networks, erode public confidence, and undermine the progress recorded under the ongoing reforms within the aviation sector,” Keyamo pleaded.
The Minister who had earlier commended Nigerian airline operators for their dedication and resilience working under the harsh economic environment, said a high level emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been slated for Wednesday to address the concerns raised.
“I wish to formally assure you that the concerns raised by your members have received the full attention of the Federal Government and we shall take immediate steps to address the issues.
“Accordingly, a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled to hold on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 in Abuja, bringing together all relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities with a view to achieving a prompt, practical, and sustainable resolution. The venue and time will be communicated in due course,” he assured.
