HOW FUEL SHORTAGES, FOREX SHORTAGES, AND RUNWAY CLOSURES IMPACTED AIRLINE OPERATIONS

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has again cautioned the nation's airlines that their capacity to continue operations is in jeopardy due to growing fuel and supply costs.

“The JetA1 problem, which started in late February and exacerbated during the months of March to May, has further worsened and [is] presently jeopardizing the capacity of airlines to continue operations,” the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) stated in the statement, which was carried by News Express.

Max Air, Ibom Air, Aero Contractors, Overland Airways, Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Arik Air, Azman Air, and Dana Air—which was recently grounded owing to financial issues—are all member airlines of the AON.

The closure of the domestic runway (18L) at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, and the ongoing JetA1 have, according to Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), severely hampered their capacity to continue operations.

Flight delays and cancellations are caused by the ongoing increase in aviation fuel prices and its erratic and unpredictable supply at several airports around the nation, according to a statement from the AON's spokeswoman, Obiora Okonkwo.

The group urged the Federal Government to take a close look at the challenges outlined in their statement as they relate to the price and shortage of aviation fuel as well as foreign exchange in order to find solutions to the issues that may lead to a complete closure of the industry.

The JetA1 problem, which started in late February and worsened over the months of March to May, has continued to worsen and is presently endangering the capacity of airlines to continue operations, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) would like to inform the general public. JetA1's cost abruptly increased from N200 per litre in December 2021 to above N400 per litre in February. The price has soared to almost N800 per litre today. In addition to the ongoing increase in the price of aviation fuel, the country's airports' supply is, at best, erratic and unpredictable, which results in flight delays and sometimes cancellations while airlines wait in line for fuel.

“The high cost and dearth of foreign cash just make the already challenging position worse. It is important to remember that airlines conduct the majority of their business in US dollars, which now exchange for N630 to $1 and are, unhappily, in limited supply. To put it mildly, airlines are engaged in a ”life and death fight to get the foreign currency they desperately require to purchase spare parts to assure the normal routine and planned maintenance of aircraft. This has a significant impact on how soon a grounded aircraft can be repaired and returned to fly operations, which has a significant impact on the dependability of schedules, industry growth, and economic sustainability, according to AON.

The organization said that the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria's (FAAN) decision, which was made with no warning to the airlines, has further crippled their operations by resulting in unaffordable additional operational expenses and caused both the airlines and passengers great inconvenience.