BY JACOB BRIGHT
Domestic airline operators, under the aegis of Association of Airline Operators of Nigeria, have stood down from Monday’s planned operations boycott over continuous hike in the price of aviation fuel.
The operators had on Friday threatened to shut down Nigeria’s airports due to what they referred to as a “sudden shock” caused by the astronomical rise (in price of aviation fuel) over a short period of time.”
In a statement released by the President of the Association, Abdulmunaf Yu usa Sarina, the body said it had listened to the appeals made by stakeholders and the National Assembly, and was willing to call off the planned action.
“The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) wishes to inform the general public that further to numerous calls from the highest echelons in government with promises to urgently intervene in the crises being faced by airlines due to the astronomic and continuously rising cost of JetA1, that the AON has acceded to requests to withdraw the action for the time being while we allow for a fresh round of dialogue with government in the hope of reaching an amicable solution.
“We have also reached this decision with the highest consideration for our esteemed customers who have been faced with uncertainty over the last few days and to enable them to have access to travel to their various destinations for the time being during the period of discussions with relevant authorities.
“In view of the above and in the interest of national economy and security considerations, AON hereby wishes to notify the general public that the earlier announced shutdown of operations on May 9, 2022 is hereby suspended in good faith pending the outcome of hopefully fruitful engagement with government,” the statement said.
Two of the domestic airline operators, Dana Air and Ibom Air had earlier recanted their decisions to join the AON to commence an indefinite cessation of operations from May 9, 2022.
Kingsley Ezenwa, Manager, Communications and Marketing, Dana Airlines confirmed this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
“Following the recent press statement by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), it has become necessary for us to take a stand in the overall interest of our guests, corporate partners, staff and the industry at large.
“While Dana Air agrees with the AON on all the challenges facing domestic airlines in Nigeria and have on many occasions, actively participated in the collective and ongoing engagement of relevant authorities, on the urgent need to tackle the many issues domestic airlines have been grappling with which includes the skyrocketing cost of Jet A1, we have taken a decision not to join the suspension of flights on May 9, 2022.
“We acknowledge that the present cost of jet A1 is unsustainable and should not be passed to the flying public.
“We, therefore, call on the government to act urgently to resolve these unending operational challenges while Dana Air will continue to support every effort by the AON to achieve a quick and peaceful resolution in the interest of our dear country Nigeria.
“We appreciate and thank our customers once again for choosing to fly with us,” he stated.
Ibom Airlines Limited (Ibom Air) had earlier countered the position of the AON on the latter’s decision to suspend flight operations over the hike in the price of fuel.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the management of Ibom Air, the airline said suspending flights will make a bad situation worse.
“Ibom Air acknowledges the existential threat that these runaway fuel price increases pose for the air transport industry in Nigeria. We agree that this out-of-control situation is simply unsustainable. However, every airline has its unique business model and pressures. We believe that in spite of the escalating fuel prices, airlines volunteering to stop operations would rather exacerbate an already bad situation,” the statement reads.
“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 shareholder.
“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.”
