Olayiwola Matthew
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has temporarily suspended its planned nationwide shutdown of flight operations.
The decision followed an emergency meeting and came after the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Keyamo had earlier urged the operators to shelve the planned strike and called for a stakeholders’ meeting to address ongoing concerns, particularly the rising cost of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1.
The AON, which represents domestic airlines, had accused fuel marketers of exploitation, noting that the price of Jet A1 had surged by more than 300 percent—from N900 to N3,100 per litre—making operations increasingly unsustainable.
The association had initially announced plans to shut down operations starting Monday. However, the action has now been put on hold.
In a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of its Executive Council and Board of Trustees on Friday, the AON said it decided to suspend the shutdown to allow room for dialogue.
“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 the group, the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, will allow stakeholders to engage constructively toward finding a “lasting and win-win solution” to the crisis surrounding the sharp increase in Jet A1 prices.
The AON stressed that the suspension 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,” it stated.
The association also expressed concern over the growing demand for upfront payments by service providers, describing the practice as unsustainable for already struggling 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.
While acknowledging the Federal Government’s intervention, the AON reiterated that the suspension remains temporary and will depend on the outcome of the upcoming 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.
