The Federal Government has appealed to airlines to halt their planned shutdown of flight operations scheduled for April 20, 2026, over the surge in jet fuel prices.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made the appeal in a statement dated April 16, 2026, directed to airline operators.
The development follows threats issued by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) that flights would be suspended from April 20, 2026, after a sharp rise in Jet A1 prices pushed aviation fuel above N3,000 per litre.
Keyamo urged airline operators to suspend any planned shutdown of flight operations and avoid immediate increases in airfares despite the sharp rise in jet fuel prices.
He acknowledged the severe pressure the cost spike has placed on operators while warning that shutting down services would have wide-ranging economic consequences.
Keyamo also noted that aviation remains a key sector for national integration, trade, and logistics, and stressed that government engagement with stakeholders is ongoing, with a high-level emergency meeting scheduled for April 22, 2026.
Nigerian airline operators had earlier issued warnings that they would suspend operations nationwide starting April 20, 2026. The warning followed what they described as an unsustainable rise in aviation fuel costs.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria communicated the position in a letter to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), citing sharp increases in Jet A1 prices as the key trigger for the planned shutdown.
They further argued that the pricing trend had reached a tipping point and warned of broad economic disruption if urgent intervention was not taken.
Rising jet fuel costs have already been flagged as a major pressure point for Nigeria’s aviation sector. Fuel accounts for more than 40% of Nigerian airline operating costs, according to estimates from industry sources, compared to about 25% in other parts of the world.
Experts also highlighted that the situation could intensify operational instability if fuel availability continues to tighten.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects African airlines to remain marginally profitable in 2026 despite a projected 6% rise in passenger traffic, as high operating costs continue to squeeze margins.
Rising jet fuel prices are also adding further pressure across the global aviation industry.
