Operations across Nigeria’s aviation sector received a temporary reprieve as the Airline Operators of Nigeria stepped back from its planned nationwide shutdown.
The decision followed an emergency session involving the group’s Executive Council and Board of Trustees, convened after an appeal from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. He had urged the airlines to hold off on the strike and engage in talks aimed at resolving the dispute.
At the heart of the crisis is the steep rise in the cost of Jet A1 fuel, which operators say has jumped from about ₦900 to over ₦3,100 per litre—an increase they described as unsustainable and indicative of exploitation by fuel suppliers.
The airlines had earlier threatened to ground flights starting Monday, April 20, 2026, in protest. However, after deliberations, they agreed to suspend the action for now, allowing time for discussions with key stakeholders.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the association confirmed the move, stating that the shutdown had been called off temporarily while awaiting the outcome of the minister’s proposed dialogue.
