The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) on Monday alerted the public that the lingering scarcity of JetA1 fuel, also known as aviation fuel, would further exacerbate flight reschedules and cancellations now being experienced by air travellers unless urgent steps are taken by government to address the problem.
The Chairman, United Nigeria Airline and the spokesperson of AON, Mr. Obiora Okonkwo, in a statement lamented that the aviation fuel scarcity was impacting negatively on the seamless conduct of air transport operations and would lead to more flight rescheduling and cancellations.
The AON spokesman stated: “The Airline Operators of Nigeria wish to alert the public of impending disruptions to scheduled flight operations of members of the association. This development is being forced on members by the growing scarcity of aviation fuel popular as Jet-Al.
“The scarcity is impacting negatively on the seamless conduct of air transport operations and would lead to flight rescheduling, and, or, cancellations.
“However, the association and its members are working very hard, and in alliance with product marketers, government and relevant stakeholders, to ensure availability and proper pricing of aviation fuel in the country.
“While pleading the understanding of the flying public in the face of this reality, we also promise to do all that is necessary, and within our powers, to restore normal flight schedules as soon as possible”, he added.
It would be recalled that penultimate Friday, the major airlines, including Air Peace, Ibom Air, Max Air, Arik Air, United Nigeria Airlines and four other airlines under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria announced plans to shut down operations with effect from Monday, May 9, 2022, over spiking price of aviation fuel which, they claimed then, had risen to N700 per litre.
Earlier, the operators had earlier in March notified air travellers of expected flight delays and cancellations as a result of the hike in aviation fuel which, they claimed, was negatively impacting their operations.
