Nigerian airlines to halt operations

ABUJA: Nigerian airlines will stop operations from Monday until further notice due to the high cost of jet fuel, the Airline Operators of Nigeria association said on Friday.

Domestic flights have been disrupted since March as some started to cancel internal schedules while others delayed operations, citing scarcity of jet fuel.

Global jet fuel prices have soared ater Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a surge in the crude oil market, hiting airlines and passengers with steep cost increases.

Jet fuel has risen to 700 naira per litre in Nigeria from 190 naira over a short period, the airline association said in a statement, saying that the cost of a one-hour flight has more than doubled to 120,000 naira, which is unsustainable.

Airline passengers in Nigeria pay for fares in naira, which has weakened sharply due to devaluations. Fuel suppliers however are paid in dollars, a scarce currency in Africa’s top economy.

The association said the continued rise in the cost of jet fuel has created operational pressures that put into question their financial viability.

Separately, Nigerian telecoms regulator said on Friday it had received a leter from the association of mobile phone operators demanding for a certain percentage hike in tariff for services due to the high cost of operations.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said there could be justifiable reasons for the demand but that no tariff increase will be effected without a cost-based study to determine the appropriate cost for services.