People who rely on domestic flights across Nigeria now face uncertainty, as domestic airlines may halt operations from Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Jet A1 fuel is the special kerosene that planes run on. This fuel has jumped from around ₦900 per litre at the end of February 2026 to ₦3,300 per litre now. That makes it almost a 300% increase in a few weeks.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) basically said, “If this doesn’t change, we’re shutting down all domestic flights starting April 30.” 
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Why This May Happen
In Nigeria, Jet A1 takes up 30-40% of the total costs spent by airlines, which is higher than the global average. As global oil prices fluctuate and the naira struggles against stronger currencies, the cost of importing this fuel keeps rising. When prices increase quickly, tickets have to be super expensive to cover the costs. That means passenger, like students, families, and young professionals, have to stretch their budgets beyond what they are used to.
Also, airlines can’t keep increasing ticket prices forever. At some point, passengers stop booking. When flights start going half-empty, airlines begin to lose money, and it becomes difficult for them to stay in business.
The Chain Reaction: Fuel costs lead to higher ticket prices, which lead to fewer passengers, which leads to financial strain.
While global factors like oil market jitters play a role, airlines have accused fuel marketers of hiking prices artificially. Even with the Dangote Refinery producing some fuel locally, imports and forex issues have made everything pricier.
Government Intervention
However, the Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, Festus Keyamo, has appealed for calm. He urged airlines not to hike fares wildly or shut down and has called for urgent talks.
President Tinubu has approved a 30% reduction in debts owed by domestic airlines to federal aviation agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
While welcoming the 30% debt cut, operators like Allen Onyema of Air Peace have pushed for a total waiver of debt and a suspension of further payments until stability returns.
The Current Outlook
For now, flights are still running, but it’s temporary. The underlying problem of high fuel prices hasn’t vanished, and we are watching what happens next in negotiations.
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