The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has entreated indigenous airlines to re-examine their decision to end operations on May 9, 2022 in consideration for the aggregated effect such an action will have on travellers in particular and the economy in general.
The Minister has expressed concern over the turmoil in the industry as relates to the current price of aviation fuel (Jet A1), but has encouraged the airlines planning to stop operations to exercise restraint as the Ministry of Aviation engages with key players to determine a way out of the present impasse.
His gentle appeal to airlines went thus: “As the Ministry charged with the management of the industry, we are greatly concerned about the difficulties being faced by airline operators in procuring aviation fuel in the country, which has resulted in the spiralling costs in air transportation in the immediate past.”
“We acknowledge that airline operators are in the business to make profits while serving the very critical sector that is not only the preferred mode of transport for most Nigerians, but also the main international gateway to the nation.”
According to Sirika, though it is not within the powers of the Ministry of Aviation to determine how fuel is supplied, the general public should be assured that the Federal Government is working hard to ensure the provision of a sustainable business environment that promotes growth, especially for carriers.
It can be recalled that Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) released a statement on Friday May 6, 2022 announcing that member airlines will suspend operations from Monday May 9, 2022 as a result of the high cost of Jet A1 which currently sells at N700 per litre – a price hike which the Operators denounce as a menace to business sustainability.
