Airlines Insist, No Going Back On Flight Suspension

• As six out of 10 member airlines  pull out of the planned flight suspension

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has said that there is no going back on flight suspension over high cost of aviation fuel today (Monday).

The body of scheduled and non scheduled operators said in a statement signed by its President, Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, stated that it stands firmly by the decision to suspend operations, describing their action as a collective sacrifice for the common interest of the nation.

Although, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had on Saturday appealed to the airlines not to suspend operations, but the body clarified that airlines are not run with public funds and cannot continue to pay upfront in cash at N700 per litre for aviation fuel, which has increased their cost of operations on daily basis to about 95%.

The Airlines said the increase is unsustainable and that its consequences, if allowed to stay, will be borne by the passengers.

“In the light of frantic developments within the last twenty four hours since informing the general public of our decision to suspend operations in response to the astronomic and continuously rising cost of JetA1, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) would like to state unequivocally that we stand firmly by our decision.

“Airline operators are patriotic citizens and we are doing all we can to protect the flying public contrary to what some subjective schools of thought might suggest. This is a collective sacrifice for the common interest of our nation.

“May we use this medium to clearly state that; “Airlines are not on strike. We are private investors who do not run our airlines with public funds to be able to continue to pay upfront in cash at N700 per litre for JetA1 which has increased our cost on a daily basis to about 95%. This is totally unsustainable. And its consequences, if allowed to stay, will be borne by the passengers; which is what we are trying to prevent.

“To his end therefore, we remain resolute in our resolve to find a lasting solution to this crucial problem of national emergency and once again use this medium to appeal to the conscience of our esteemed passengers for their understanding,” AON said.

Meanwhile, Ibom Air’s management announced on Saturday that the airline would not join in the proposed halt of domestic flight operations on Monday despite the exorbitant and unsustainable cost of aviation fuel.

Although the Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, Capt. Mfon Udom, was a signatory to the letter that announced the decision of AON to suspend operations from Monday, the airline’s management said on Saturday that the carrier had financial obligations to suppliers, financiers and staff, as these was dependent on uninterrupted flow of revenue through service.

Commenting on the decision of Ibom Air to exempt itself from suspension of flights, AON said: “We regret the unfortunate position taken by one of our members, Ibom Air, not to stand by the collective decision. While they may have their reasons for doing what they did, it is pertinent to note that they equally accepted in their statement that the JetA1 situation poses an “existential threat to the air transport industry in Nigeria” and that “the out-of-control situation is simply unsustainable.”

In a related development, six out of 10 member airlines have pulled out of the planned flight suspension on Monday, taking advantage of passengers’ glut by raising fares 100 percent.

Overland, Green Africa, Ibom Air, Dana Air, Aero Contractors, and Arik Air have disclosed plans to continue with normal flight operations as fares from Lagos to Abuja, Owerri, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Asaba are raised by 100 percent.