We stand by our decision — Airlines insist on shutting operations over increased price of aviation fuel

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have insisted on shutting down home flights throughout the nation from Monday Might 9, over elevated worth of aviation gasoline. 

In a press release launched after the federal authorities’s requested them to contemplate the multiplier impact of their determination on travellers, the AON maintained they don’t seem to be on strike however can proceed to pay upfront in money at N700 per litre for JetA1 which has elevated their price of operation each day to about 95 per cent.

The assertion  collectively signed by Shehu Wada, govt director, Max Air; Obiora Okonkwo, chairman, United Nigeria Airways; Allen Onyema, chairman, Air Peace; Roy Ilegbodu, CEO of Arik Air; Abdullahi Mahmood, CEO, Aero Contractors; Faisal Abdulmunaf, MD, Azman Air; and Sukh Mann, deputy CEO, Dana Air, learn; 

“Within the gentle of frantic developments throughout the final twenty-four hours since informing most of the people of our determination to droop operations in response to the astronomic and repeatedly rising price of JetA1, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) want to state unequivocally that we stand firmly by our determination.

“Airline operators are patriotic residents and we’re doing all we will to guard the flying public opposite to what some subjective faculties of thought would possibly recommend. This can be a collective sacrifice for the widespread curiosity of our nation.

“(AON) regrets the unlucky place taken by considered one of our members, Ibom Air, to not stand by the collective determination. Whereas they could have their causes for doing what they did, it’s pertinent to notice that they equally accepted of their assertion that the JetA1 state of affairs poses an ‘existential risk to the air transport trade in Nigeria’ and that “the out-of-control state of affairs is just unsustainable.

“Might we use this medium to obviously state that; Airways will not be on strike. We’re non-public buyers who don’t run our airways with public funds to have the ability to proceed to pay upfront in money at N700 per litre for JetA1 which has elevated our price each day to about 95 per cent.

“That is completely unsustainable. And its penalties, if allowed to remain, will likely be borne by the passengers; which is what we try to forestall.

“To this finish, due to this fact, we stay resolute in our resolve to discover a lasting resolution to this significant drawback of nationwide emergency and as soon as once more use this medium to enchantment to the conscience of our esteemed passengers for his or her understanding.”