The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) says there is no going back on its decision to halt flight operations in the country from Monday over the rise in the price of aviation fuel.
The body again in a statement to insist on its stand not to operate on Monday says despite the pull out by some airlines on the earlier decision taken, others will go ahead because their survival is at stake.
President AON, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa explains that airlines are not on strike and as private investors they do not run their airlines with public funds to continue to pay upfront in cash at N700 per litre for JetA1 which has increased the cost on daily basis to about 95%.
“This is totally unsustainable. And its consequences, if allowed to stay, will be borne by the passengers; which is what we are trying to prevent”, he said.
He stressed that, they remain resolute in their resolve to find a lasting solution to this crucial problem of national emergency and again appealed to the conscience of passengers for their understanding.
According to him, this is a collective sacrifice for the common interest of the nation and AON regrets the unfortunate position taken by one of its members like Ibom Air, not to stand by the collective decision.
“While they may have their reasons for doing what they did, it is pertinent to note that they equally accepted in their statement that the JetA1 situation poses an existential threat to the air transport industry in Nigeria and that the out-of-control situation is simply unsustainable”, he added.