Airlines halt planned strike, pending talks with aviation minister
Airline operators in Nigeria have suspended their planned nationwide shutdown, offering temporary relief to passengers who would have been affected by disruptions from Monday.
The operators, however, said the decision is conditional and would depend on the outcome of a scheduled meeting with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) announced the development in a communiqué issued on Friday following an emergency meeting.
The group described the suspension as a concession, noting that the planned shutdown initially slated for April 20, 2026, has been put on hold temporarily.
“The exco would like to state unequivocally that the planned shutdown action scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2026, is hereby called off, albeit temporarily,” the communiqué read.
The operators had threatened to halt operations over the sharp increase in the price of Jet A1 aviation fuel.
They noted that the cost of the fuel rose from N900 per litre in February to about N3,300 per litre, describing the increase as excessive.
The operators added that their next line of action would be determined after the outcome of the meeting scheduled for April 22, 2026.
