Airline operators suspend planned shutdown

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has temporarily suspended its planned nationwide shutdown of flight operations.

The suspension announced after an emergency meeting followed the intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN.

Keyamo had earlier appealed to the operators to shelve the proposed shutdown while calling for a stakeholders’ meeting to resolve the lingering issues fueled by the rising cost of aviation fuel also known as Jet A1.

The AON representing domestic airlines in Nigeria, had accused the marketers of extortion, saying Jet A1 price rose by over 300 per cent from N900 to N3100 per litre, saying the situation is no longer acceptable.

They, however, announced plan to shut down on Monday.

But the operators have shelved the plan albeit temporarily according to a communique issued after an emergency meeting of the association’s Executive Council (Exco) and Board of Trustees held on Friday evening, where members deliberated extensively on the Minister’s appeal.

Responding to the Minister’s appeal, AON said it decided to suspend the shutdown to allow room for dialogue and possible resolution of the crisis.

“The planned shutdown action scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2026, is hereby called off, albeit temporarily, pending the outcome of the meeting called by the Honourable Minister,” the association said.

According to AON, the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026 will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to engage constructively with a view to finding a “lasting and win-win solution” to the issues surrounding the astronomical rise in the price of Jet A1 fuel.

The association, however, stressed that its decision to suspend the industrial action is conditional.

“As a precondition for this suspension, we call on the Honourable Minister to urge the relevant government agencies and industry service providers to continue to provide services to airlines and desist from undue harassment,” AON stated.

It also raised concerns over the increasing demand for upfront payments by service providers, describing the trend as unsustainable for already strained airline operators.

“We further request that these agencies halt the practice of demanding upfront payment for services rendered, as this continues to compound the financial burden on operators,” the statement added.

AON reiterated that while it respects the Federal Government’s intervention, the suspension remains temporary and subject to the outcome of the forthcoming meeting.

“We respect the appeals of the Federal Government and will be patient for the outcome of the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, to determine any further decision,” the association said.

The communique read: “In consideration of the appeals and efforts by the Honourable Minister to wade into the matter and get to the bottom of the issues surrounding the astronomical and arbitrary increase in the price of JetA, the exco would like to state unequivocally that the planned shutdown action scheduled for Monday April 20, 2026 is hereby called off albeit temporarily pending the outcome of the meeting called by the Minister scheduled to take place on Wednesday April 22, 2026 to allow for dialogue with a view to possibly finding a lasting and win-win solution for all parties concerned.

“Furthermore, as a precondition for the suspension, we call on the Honourable Minister to urge the various government agencies and industry service providers to continue to provide services to airlines
and desist from undue harassment as well as to stop demanding upfront payment for services rendered.

“We respect the appeals of the Federal Government through the office of the Honourable Minister and will therefore be patient for the outcome of the meeting scheduled for Wednesday 22, 2026 to
determine any further decision.”