Nigerian Airline’s Protest Against High Jet Fuel Price Begins Crumbling

One of the domestic airlines, Ibom Air, has stepped out of the plan to shut down operations on Monday, stating it will continue to function as usual.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) included Ibom Air in a joint statement declaring flight shutdown on Monday due to the rising cost of Jet A1.

The airline said in a statement that it has received a flood of questions about the decision to shut down the aviation sector.

Ibom Air confirmed the existential threat that uncontrolled fuel price hikes pose to the Nigerian aviation industry, but each airline has its own business model and demands, according to the statement.

The Nigerian Airline said, “We believe that in spite of the escalating fuel prices, airlines volunteering to stop operations would rather exacerbate an already bad situation.

“Ibom Air has financial obligations to suppliers, financiers and staff, which depend on uninterrupted flow of revenue to service. More importantly is the fact that having been paid by customers in advance for flight bookings we are bound by contract to deliver the services already paid for, to avoid exposing the airline to the risk of avoidable litigation.

“Apart from the above factors, Ibom Air is currently the only airline serving Akwa Ibom State directly and as such, any voluntary stoppage of operations would completely cut off access by air into and out of the State. Such action would be directly in conflict with and detrimental to the interest of our shareholders.

“In view of the foregoing facts, Ibom Air had respectfully disagreed with the decision of AON to suspend flight operations on Monday 09 May 2022. Ibom Air cannot in the circumstance volunteer to stop operating and will continue normal operations on Monday 09 May 2022 and beyond. Ibom Air’s inclusion as “signatory” to the statement released by AON must have derived from its active and committed membership of the AON.

“The above notwithstanding, we identify very strongly with our AON colleagues and will participate in every effort to resolve this frightening situation as soon as possible in the interest of our business, our customers, our stakeholders and our country.”

However, Ibom Air thanked the AON “for our collective efforts to secure a sustainable fuel pricing regime for the airlines.”