Aviation fuel crisis: Passengers to experience more flight delays, cancellations

Airline passengers will experience more flight delays and cancellations in the coming days following the closures of Runway 18L, hike in aviation fuel also known as Jet A1, and suspension of aero contractors and Dana airlines.

The Airlines Operators of Nigeria, AON has also called on the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to intervene in the situation, saying the development is frustrating.

AON members include Aero Contractors (N2), Air Peace (P4), Arik Air (W3), Azman Air, Dana Airlines (9J), Ibom Air (QI), MaxAir (VM), Overland Airways (OF), and United Nigeria Airlines.

This development is coming as the price of Jet A1 nears N900 per litre in the market, a rise of 346 percent, when compared to N200 per litre sold in February 2022,
A breakdown of how the situation leads to delays and cancellation of flight showed that Jet fuel accounts for about 40 per cent of total operational expenses made by airline operators and the closure of the main domestic runway of Murtala Mohammad Airport, MMA, automatically adds an additional 15 per cent fuel costs per trip in and out of MMA.

However, the President of Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, ASRTI, Dr Gabriel Olowo in a chat with Aviation World, advised airlines to sell tickets at the rate that is commensurate with the amoun they buy Jet A1, stressing that a price increase is better than negotiating safety by cutting corner