Nigerian Airlines Temporarily Suspend Planned Shutdown Of Operations

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has temporarily suspended their planned shutdown after an intervention Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development.

Earlier in the week, local airlines had warned they would stop operations from April 20 due to the high increase in aviation fuel, known as Jet A1.

According to the operators, the price had jumped from about N900 per litre at the end of February to as high as N3,300 per litre, a rise they described as unsustainable.

However, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) disputed that figure, saying its findings show prices currently fall between N1,960 and N2,800 per litre nationwide.

After the airlines issued their warning, Keyamo stepped in and appealed to them to reconsider the shutdown.

In its response, AON held an emergency meeting on Friday and agreed to pause the planned action for now.

In a statement signed by its executive council and board of trustees, the group said the decision followed a formal appeal from the minister, who urged them to allow room for dialogue.

“Rising from an emergency meeting held this evening, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has reached a concessionary but conditional decision to temporarily suspend its earlier planned shutdown action scheduled to take effect on Monday Aprıi 20, 2026,” the airline operators said.

“The decision was reached following robust deliberations by members of the Executive Council (Exco) and Trustees in consideration of an intervention the Association received through a letter of appeal from the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo calling for a stay of action.”

The airlines noted that the minister acknowledged the challenges they are facing and asked for patience as the government works to address the rising fuel costs.

“Hę added that the concerns raised by airlines have received the full attention of the Federal Government and that immediate steps will be taken to address the issues,” the group said.

AON said it will meet with the minister on April 22 to discuss the situation further.

The outcome of that meeting will determine whether the airlines proceed with any future action.

“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 JetA1, 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,” the group said.

They also called on the minister to ensure that aviation agencies and service providers continue to support airline operations without harassment or demands for upfront payments.

The group stressed that its next steps will depend on the results of the upcoming talks.

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