The airlines of Nigeria have called off the plan regarding ground domestic flights from today, 9 May, in protest against the spiralling cost of aviation fuel.
The Airline Operators said the aviation fuel prices have risen by almost fourfold this year, which is unsuitable for the nation.
The hikes in price have been triggered mainly due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February.
But, today, the airline stated that flights will now go ahead as negotiations with the government are going on.
As per the reports, the planes are currently flying through the busy route between the biggest city of Nigeria and the capital, Abuja, and the number of passengers is at the usual level.
Some passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja blockaded the boarding gate after their flights got late. Many of the angry passengers said that they had been at the airport since Sunday night to catch their flights to various destinations to evade the service disruption because of the announced strike.
Several pictures are being circulated on social media showing many of the tourists having an uncomfortable night at the airport and using chairs as mattresses to sleep and spend the night.
AON stated that the government had given them assurances regarding the stability in the price of aviation fuel.
The planned ban on plans was put down due to pressure from the government, consumer protection bodies and passengers as it was announced on Friday.
The announcement has come as a huge relief to hundreds of air travellers whose plans may have been disrupted due to this.
But it is not evident whether the airlines and the Nigerian government will find an everlasting solution in their continued negotiations.
AON, which represents Nigeria’s nine domestic carriers, are whining about airlines having to fund services over the last four months.
