Business

Aviation Fuel: Domestic Airlines Risk Shutting Down Over Rising Price Of Jet A1

Published

1 year ago

April 1, 2024

Indications have emerged revealing that some domestic airlines may cease operations over the rising price of aviation fuel, otherwise known as Jet A1.

Given that there has been a sustained increase in the price of aviation fuel over the last two years, airlines have been forced to enhance their operations by raising ticket prices.

In less than eight months, specifically between July 2023 and February 2024, the product’s swinging price saw local carriers struggle with 109 per cent price increment.

The 12 scheduled airlines in the country, including Air Peace, Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Max Air, Azman, Dana Air, Ibom Air, Green Africa, Overland, Rano Air, ValueJet and United Nigeria Airlines, UNA, had made efforts to stay in business, even as the price of jet fuel surged from N629 to N1,316.

With the situation no longer sustainable, some airlines are looking at discontinuing operations, Vanguard has gathered.

Fluctuations

Although efforts to get the price of jet fuel as of press time failed, Chief Operating Officer of Ibom Air, Mr George Uriesi, told Vanguard that it was fluctuating between N1,300 and N1,500.

Uriesi said: “It is a massive challenge because fuel is the major cost. In two years, it has gone from about N200 to N1,500. No matter how prudent an airline is, it cannot absorb that kind of increase in the major cost input. The increase is so massive that it is difficult to attack by raising fares. We think that we have reached the plateau in terms of using fares to absorb all these inflationary issues – the value of naira and increase in price of fuel, which are the two most important components for a domestic airline.

Reached the zenith

“I think we have reached the zenith of how much we can charge higher for people to travel without stopping them from buying tickets. What I can say right now is that the recent strengthening of the Naira was just like an oxygen mask for the domestic airlines because it had reached the point where it was no longer sustainable. I don’t think any other group of airlines in the world faces the challenges that Nigerian airlines face.”

Refining

Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, in a chat with Vanguard, also warned that if the country does not start refining Jet A1, the situation might worsen.

He said: “Cost has been skyrocketing and from the normal 35 to 40 per cent of airlines’ cost, it has now jumped to close to 80 per cent. And in some cases, 90 to 95 per cent. It means when tickets are sold, 90 per cent of the ticket goes to buying Jet A1. It’s a direct relationship. When the price increases, cost increases.

“Airlines increase the prices of their tickets and transfer the cost to the customer. Until we start refining jet fuel in the country, we will depend on imports. While we are depending on import, we are looking at the cost with a naira to dollar exchange rate. I don’t know whether Dangote and Port Harcourt refineries are equipped to refine Jet A1, but even if they are, it would take a little bit of time before we feel the impact.”

Cartel

While calling on Federal Government to make importation of jet fuel transparent, Sanusi said: “If the federal government can make the importation as transparent as possible, I think it will give the airlines a picture of what the price will be. If the price can be published by the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, we will know the price and that there is no cartel fixing the price. If they do that, I think it would stabilize the price because right now, some airlines are struggling and some will continue to struggle until they struggle no more and then give up.”

VANGUARD

Business

Dangote Refinery Reduces Fuel Price

Published

18 hours ago

August 12, 2025

Editor

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot (gantry) price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly known as petrol, by N30, from N850 to N820 per litre, effective from August 12, 2025.

This was disclosed in a statement by the company’s spokesman, Anthony Chijiena, on Tuesday.

The 650,000-barrel-per-day plant said the move is part of its unwavering commitment to national development, assuring the public of a consistent and uninterrupted supply of petroleum products.

Business

Indian Refiners Abandon Russia For Nigerian Crude, As Dangote Refinery Relies On US

Published

2 days ago

August 11, 2025

Editor

India Refineries have abandoned Russian crude for Nigerian crude, while domestic refiner Dangote Refinery relies heavily on West Texas Intermediate crude from the United States of America.

This followed a recent sanction threat by US president Donald Trump on India over continued patronage of Russian crude.

According to Reuters, industry sources said that Indian Oil Corporation recently bought one million barrels of Nigeria’s Agbami crude for September 2025 delivery in a tender awarded to global trader Trafigura.

Also included are one million barrels of Angola Girassol, one million barrels of US Mars, three million barrels of Abu Dhabi Murban, and two million barrels of Nigerian oil, according to Reuters.

The report noted that the purchase is part of a broader sourcing spree that has seen Indian refiners secure millions of barrels from non-Russian sources post July 2025.

Meanwhile, Indian refiners secured purchases of Nigerian crude grades; the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is relying on around 60 percent on US and other imoorts to feed its processing units.

Data showed that the refinery imported an average of 10 million barrels in July 2025, saying it was increasingly relying on the US for its feedstock despite the naira-for-crude deal with the Federal Government, which kicked off in October last year.

According to Reuters, the Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum have bought a million barrels of non-Russian crude billed for delivery in September and October after the US pressured India to halt purchases from Russia.

Business

NNPCL Increases Fuel Price

Published

1 week ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has increased the pump price of premium motor spirit across its retail outlets.

It was gathered that NNPCL retail outlets in Abuja have adjusted their fuel pump price to N955 per litre from N890.

This is the case in NNPCL retail outlets along Kubwa Expressway, Wuse and other parts of Abuja.

Similarly, the pump price hike has been implemented at filling stations in Kogi and Nasarawa.

This means that the petrol pump price was increased by N65.

This comes after independent petroleum product marketers and filling station owners in Abuja increased petrol pump prices to between N950 and N971 per litre at the weekend. Their decision followed an upward review of the ex-depot petrol price by Dangote Refinery to N858 per litre, up from N820.