• Nigerian airlines paused a threatened strike pending April 22 talks
• Jet fuel costs surged nearly 300%, from ₦900 to ₦3,300/liter
• African carriers face structurally higher fuel costs than global peers

A dozen Nigerian airlines under the umbrella of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) threatened to suspend flights from Monday, April 20, citing unsustainable increases in aviation fuel costs.

In a letter dated Thursday, April 16, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo urged the airlines to show restraint, while acknowledging the strain caused by rising costs.

Conditional suspension pending talks

After an emergency meeting on Sunday, April 19, the airlines agreed to conditionally suspend the action. The move hinges on the outcome of a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, in Abuja, where authorities, regulators and industry stakeholders are expected to discuss possible remedies.

Tensions were triggered by a sharp rise in the price of jet fuel in Nigeria, estimated at nearly 300%. The price per liter climbed from about 900 naira to 3,300 naira, or roughly $0.67 to $2.45. Airlines say such levels are unsustainable for normal operations.

Fuel accounts for more than a third of airline operating costs in Nigeria, leaving the sector highly exposed to price swings.

The crisis also reflects broader pressures on global aviation fuel markets, driven by energy market disruptions linked to tensions involving Iran. Worldwide, prices have risen by about 30%, but the effect is more severe in Africa because of structural constraints. Aviation fuel on the continent is bought at prices at least 17% above the global average. In addition, around 70% of supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint vulnerable to geopolitical tensions.

Structural weakness in African aviation

Beyond fuel prices, the structure of the sector leaves African airlines especially vulnerable. Fuel represents between 30% and 40% of operating costs for African carriers, compared with 20% to 25% globally. That heavier burden means even modest price increases can quickly undermine profitability.

Nigerian airlines also point to cash flow pressure worsened by advance payment requirements imposed by some service providers and suppliers.

The suspension of the strike comes in a country where air travel is essential for domestic mobility. Nigeria recorded more than 10.5 million domestic passengers in 2025, while road transport remains constrained by congestion and the rail network is still underdeveloped.

The airlines say the suspension will hold only if the April 22 talks produce concrete measures to stabilize costs and support continued operations. They are also calling for uninterrupted airport services and relief from immediate financial pressures.

A crisis highlighting wider vulnerabilities

The dispute goes beyond Nigeria. It underscores how exposed African aviation remains to global energy shocks and geopolitical tensions. In several countries, airlines have already started passing higher costs on to passengers through fuel surcharges, a gradual but politically and socially sensitive adjustment.

The Abuja meeting may prove pivotal in preventing deeper disruption in Nigeria's aviation sector. Over the longer term, the challenge will be whether the industry can absorb repeated price shocks in a volatile energy environment without undermining connectivity and mobility across the region.

Olivier de Souza