Jet A1 Crisis May Cause The Aviation Collapse, Experts Say
- Nigerians are groaning over the high cost of domestic flights in Nigeria as operators lament the high-cost aviation fuel
- According to recent reports, flights from Lagos to Abuja now cost about N150,000 in the economy class
- Aviation stakeholders said that if nothing is done, the aviation industry in Nigeria will collapse soon
Nigerian air travellers are complaining bitterly that the new air travel costs for them are too prohibitive as flights across major states in Nigeria now cost as much as N100,000 per flight.
Many travellers who spoke to reporters at the domestic wings of the Lagos airport lamented the sharp hike in airfares.
Source: UGC
Costs of domestic flights hits the roof
The Punch report said that economy class on domestic flights from Lagos to Abuja through Arik Air, United Nigeria and Air Peace now costs ABOUT N150,000, which has caused others to follow suit.
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Reports noted the increase in aviation fuel (Jet A1), including the scarcity, contributed to the hikes.
It was gathered that the increase in the price of aviation fuel and its scarcity was among the main factors for the hike in fares.
Sources report that air passengers in Nigeria in 2019 surged by almost 30 per cent, saying that Nigerians still have a huge gap in travel demand.
According to the figures by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), roughly 15 million domestic and international air travellers passed through the airports in 2019.
A few days ago, domestic airline operators in Nigeria said that the air transport services sector had been affected by a major crisis of serious scarcity of aviation fuel, raising concerns about flight cancellations.
Experts chart way forward
Industry experts have expressed worry that if nothing is done, the lingering scarcity could cause the collapse of the aviation industry.
Aviation Round Table, a body of professionals in the sector, said more airlines might be forced to halt operations.
In addition, the two domestic airlines are currently not operating. Aero Contractors on July 18 announced the suspension of its operations, citing the impact of the challenging operating environment on its daily operations, while the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on July 20 suspended the operations of Dana Air.
Domestic airlines increase flight tickets by 100% days after trading words with NASS on increasing delays
Recall that Legit.ng reported that airfares across Nigeria have increased by as much as 100%, a check on airlines' websites and reports from the Sun Newspaper.
Ticket fares to cities like Port Harcourt, Ilorin, and northern states like Kebbi, Borno, Adamawa and Kano have increased by as much as 100%.
Some Nigerians have also taken to social media to express their pains and call for relief amid the rising cost of living.
Source: Legit.ng
