JUST IN: Nigerian Airline Operators Cancel Monday’s Nationwide Shutdown
The Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has confirmed the suspension of its earlier decision to shut down flights from Monday, May 9.
In a statement last week, AON vowed to shut down operations following the skyrocketing cost of aviation fuel which cost N700 per litre.
The operators, while reacting to a statement released after the federal government’s asked them to consider the multiplier effect of their decision on travellers, maintained they are not on strike but can’t continue to pay upfront in cash at N700 per litre for JetA1 which has increased their cost of operation on a daily basis to about 95 per cent.
But the president of the AON, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, in a statement released on Sunday, announced that airlines would continue operations as usual, PUNCH reports.
According to him, the development followed a deliberation with the Federal Government on how to tackle the fuel issue. The statement reads,
“The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) wishes to inform the general public that further to numerous calls from the highest echelons in government with promises to urgently intervene in the crises being faced by airlines due to the astronomic and continuously rising cost of JetA1, that the AON has acceded to requests to withdraw the action for the time being while we allow for a fresh round of dialogue with the government in the hope of reaching an amicable solution.
“We have reached this decision with the highest consideration for our esteemed customers who have been faced with uncertainty over the last few days and to enable them to have access to travel to their various destinations for the time being during the period of discussions with relevant authorities.
“In view of the above and in the interest of national economy and security considerations, AON hereby wishes to notify the general public that the earlier announced shutdown of operations on May 9, 2022 is hereby suspended in good fate pending the outcome of hopefully fruitful engagement with government.”
This is coming a few hours after about six airlines backed out of the planned shutdown and vowed to continue operations.
The airlines which pulled out of the earlier joint decision to suspend operations over skyrocketing Jet A1 include Ibom Air, Dana, Arik, Aero, Overland and Green Africa Airways.