…after the meeting, AON confirmed the suspension of the shutdown, stating that the decision was taken in good faith.
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times| Domestic airline operators under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have temporarily suspended their planned nationwide shutdown following the intervention of the Federal Government.
The association had earlier announced plans to ground operations from Monday, April 20, 2026, citing a sharp increase in the cost of Jet A1 fuel, which has surged from about ₦900 to over ₦3,000 per litre, severely impacting airline operations across the country.
However, after an emergency meeting held on Friday, the operators agreed to step back from the planned action following an appeal by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who urged them to embrace dialogue with stakeholders.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, AON confirmed the suspension of the shutdown, stating that the decision was taken in good faith to allow room for constructive negotiations. A stakeholders’ meeting has now been scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
While welcoming the minister’s intervention, the association expressed concerns over rising operational pressures, including demands from service providers for upfront payments, which they say have further strained the aviation sector.
AON, however, warned that the suspension is temporary and dependent on the outcome of the forthcoming discussions, stressing that further actions will be determined by how the issues are addressed.
