Airlines Warn of Impending Flight Disruptions Over Aviation Fuel Shortage

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has announced the shortage of aviation fuel and warned of possible flight disruptions across the country in the coming days.

In a statement, Obiora Okonkwo, the spokesperson of the AON, revealed that the aviation sector was experiencing acute scarcity of aviation fuel, otherwise known as Jet-A1.

“There will be major disruptions in scheduled flight operations, including cancellations and unnecessary delays across all airports in the country,” Okonkwo was quoted to have said.

“This is a foreseen but unintended consequence of the aviation fuel scarcity in the country.

“We, therefore, plead for the understanding of the travelling public to bear with our members as efforts are currently being made to address the development and restore normal flight operations.

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“AON is committed to rendering seamless and uninterrupted air transport service across the country.”

Also, domestic airlines have sent alerts to their passengers with regards to the flight disruptions that may arise.

Aniekan Essienette, the Marketing and Communications Manager of Ibom Air, said the growing unavailability of aviation fuel had greatly hindered airline operations.

“At this point, it might now result in some flight cancellations,” Essienette said. “While this situation is unprecedented and disruptive to our value proposition, we assure you that it is as distressing to us as it is to you.

“As Ibom Air, we will continue to do everything in our power to operate our flight schedule as close to 100 percent as possible while looking forward to normalcy being restored at the earliest.”

In June, the AON revealed that aviation fuel had reached a record high price of N714 per litre and domestic airlines might shut down operations.

FIJ