Airline operators lament as fuel moved to N670 from N170 per litre

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has lamented the shortage of aviation fuel which is now sold at N670 per litre from N170.

The operators called on the Federal Government to step in the matter in order to save the situation.

Chairman of AON, Captain Nogie Meggison, said the scarcity of the product in the past weeks was at great cost to the airlines as it had prompted 50 percent delays or cancellation of flights.

“We have been forced to cry out over the perennial problem at this juncture because it continues to put us in a difficult situation to go an extra mile to fulfill our obligations to our esteemed customers in spite of the inconveniences that go with it,” Megisson told newsmen yesterday.

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The AON chairman said marketers had been increasing price at will, noting that until last April Jet A1 fuel was N105 a litre, but about a month ago, the price jumped to N145 and two weeks later it rose to about N200 a litre.

“Considering that the cost of fuel accounts for about 40 per cent of the operational cost of most airlines, the colossal rise in price of the product by over 100 percent has equally increased the operational cost astronomically,” Megisson stated.

“In spite of all this, we can’t increase ticket prices in order not to discourage our dear customers who have been seriously stretched due to the economic hard time facing them,” he remarked.