\n\nThe Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have suspended their planned nationwide shutdown of flight operations following the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The airlines had earlier threatened to halt operations from April 20, 2026, citing the sharp rise in aviation fuel prices, which they described as unsustainable and threatening the survival of the industry. 
The decision to suspend the shutdown came after Keyamo stepped in and appealed to the operators to reconsider their position. He assured them that the Federal Government had taken their concerns seriously and would urgently address the issues surrounding the soaring cost of Jet A1 fuel. The minister also called for calm, warning that a shutdown would severely disrupt economic activities and impose hardship on Nigerians who rely on air travel. 
As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, the government convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting involving airline operators, fuel marketers, and regulatory agencies. The aim is to find a lasting solution to the pricing instability that has pushed fuel costs up by over 300 per cent within a short period. Airlines had argued that their revenues could no longer cover fuel expenses alone, making continued operations financially unsustainable. 
With the suspension of the shutdown plan, domestic flight operations are expected to continue while negotiations and policy interventions are pursued. Industry observers say the government’s quick response may have averted a major disruption in Nigeria’s aviation sector, though long-term solutions will be critical to prevent a recurrence of the crisis.
