By Sadiq Lawal, Lagos
Akwa Ibom State-owned airline, Ibom Air, has revealed that it may reduce its flight operations due to the soaring cost of aviation fuel, which now stands at approximately N7.6 million per flight.
The airline disclosed that the cost of Jet-A1 fuel has surged dramatically from about N2.1 million per flight in January, representing a more than 350 per cent increase within weeks.
Group Manager, Marketing and Communication, Aniekan Essienette, described the situation as unprecedented and unsustainable.
“At Ibom Air, the cost of fuelling our aircraft has more than tripled between January and today… we are paying approximately N7.6m to fuel every flight,” she said.
“This is more than a 350 per cent increase since the beginning of March… And our aircraft are among the most fuel-efficient in the domestic market.”
She noted that despite the rising costs, airlines have been unable to significantly increase fares due to competition and a sense of responsibility to passengers.
“A combination of competitive pressures and patriotism has prevented a commensurate increase in our fares,” she said.
Essienette warned that if the trend continues, airlines may be forced to scale down operations.
“We too will have to take whatever ameliorating actions we can… including reducing our capacity if necessary,” she added.
She also called on fuel marketers to reconsider pricing, noting that most aviation fuel is sourced locally.
Meanwhile, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN) criticised the Federal Government’s decision to grant airlines a 30 per cent debt relief.
ATSSAN President, John Ogbe, warned that the move could weaken regulatory agencies.
He argued that the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge belongs to regulators and should not be written off, as it is essential for safety oversight and operations
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