The Airline Operators of Nigeria has suspended its planned nationwide flight shutdown following a last-minute intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The decision was reached after an emergency meeting involving the association’s Executive Council and Board of Trustees, where members agreed to heed the minister’s call for calm and dialogue.
Keyamo had earlier appealed to airline operators to shelve the shutdown and participate in a stakeholders’ meeting to resolve the ongoing crisis in the aviation sector.
At the centre of the dispute is the sharp rise in the cost of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1. Operators have repeatedly raised concerns about what they describe as exploitative pricing, with fuel costs jumping by more than 300 per cent from about ₦900 to more than ₦3,100 per litre — a surge that has put intense pressure on airline operations.
The group had initially planned to suspend flights nationwide from Monday, April 20, 2026, but has now stepped back, at least temporarily.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the Airline Operators of Nigeria confirmed that the decision was taken to allow room for negotiations and a possible resolution.
“The planned shutdown action scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2026, is hereby called off, albeit temporarily, pending the outcome of the meeting called by the Honourable Minister,” the statement read.
The development offers a temporary relief to passengers and the broader economy, as stakeholders now look toward the upcoming talks to address the rising operational costs threatening Nigeria’s aviation industry.
