Nigeria’s Ibom Air rejects industry plan to stop flights over jet fuel cost

By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigerian airline Ibom Air on Saturday mentioned it is not going to participate in an trade plan to cease flights from Monday over the excessive value of jet gasoline, saying the transfer would have an effect on revenues wanted to service obligations to financiers and suppliers.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria affiliation mentioned on Friday that members will cease native flights from Monday till additional discover.

Ibom Air, one of many smaller members of the 9 airline affiliation, is the primary to say it is not going to take part in grounding flights.

The affiliation mentioned jet gasoline has risen to 700 naira ($1.69) per litre in Nigeria from 190 naira over a brief interval and that the price of a one-hour flight has greater than doubled to 120,000 naira, a worth it mentioned was unsustainable.

Ibom Air, backed by Akwa Ibom state, mentioned excessive jet gasoline posed a menace however stopping operations would exacerbate the scenario on account of obligations and that prospects have paid upfront for flights.

In November, Ibom Air signed a agency order for ten Airbus A220 planes on the Dubai Airshow.

The aviation ministry mentioned on Saturday it was involved concerning the difficulties and the spiraling air fares on account of jet gasoline value however appealed to the airways to contemplate the results of a shutdown on vacationers at house and overseas.

A earlier menace by the affiliation to cease flights over excessive prices was averted by authorities monetary help.

Individually, Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest service by passenger numbers, flying to Dubai and Johannesburg, has warned of flight disruptions on account of jet gasoline shortage.

($1 = 414.6900 naira)

(Further reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha; Enhancing by Frank Jack Daniel)