Barely few days after the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) suspended their planned grounding of operations over skyrocketing price of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1, the product has become scarce once again in the local market, thereby leading to disruption in flights schedules across the country. In letters addressed to their passengers, some of the airlines apologised for the protracted delays and even cancellations of some of its flights, blaming it on the scarcity of aviation fuel. They explained that following the cancellation of the plan to shut down flight operations on May 9, 2022, there had been marked delays in the supply of aviation fuel to the airports by oil marketers. Azman Air, in its message to passengers said though there has been promising prospects address the problem, it became important to advice the general public that until there is resolution, disruption of flights may be unavoidable.
“Our obligation at Azman Air to deliver hassle free services to our esteemed customers is recently being hindered by incessant challenges facing the Nigerian aviation sector due to jet A1 price hike and scarcity. The paucity of this product has labelled our services with protracted delays and even cancellations thereby subjecting our customers to unintended hardships in getting to their destinations. Though there has been promising prospects to overturn this obstacle, it is important to advice the general public that until there is resolution, disruption of flights may be unavoidable. We totally understand the effect these disruptions poses on our passengers and we can only appeal and crave your understanding while we continue to navigate the situation,” Azman said.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dana, Sukhjinder Mann, in a message to its passengers recently, said that the airlines were again witnessing the scarcity of aviation fuel across the airports in Nigeria which has caused flight delays and cancellations but that they have the commitment of their fuel partners to meet their requirements.
“Unfortunately, we are again witnessing the scarcity of Jet A1 fuel across the airports in Nigeria, which has in some cases, caused recent flight delays. Our commitment towards offering a convenient and reliable schedule has never been in doubt and has always been centered on setting new standards in customer experience and redefining air travel and this communication is to reassure you that we have the commitment of our fuel partners to service our requirements,” Mann said.
Spokesman of Air Peace, Stanley Olisa said the airline was also finding it difficult to get fuel as the scarcity persisted and was causing flight disruptions.
The spokesperson of Arik Air, Ola Banji, also confirmed that aviation fuel was not readily available, so airlines had to wait for it, which causes delays.
The Managing Director of Cleanserve, Chris Ndulue, said the scarcity is not peculiar to Nigeria as countries like the UK are also experiencing it. He said the scarcity is caused by the Russia- Ukraine war and not created artificially by marketers as being alleged.
He denied claims by the AON that fuel is now being sold for N700, insisting that the price is between N540 and 580. He explained that the intervention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the importation of aviation fuel is unnecessary and advised that the Central Bank of Nigeria should make forex available for marketers to import themselves.
