The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has temporarily called off its planned nationwide flight shutdown after intervention by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of the association’s Executive Council and Board of Trustees on Friday. In a communiqué issued afterward, the group said the suspension would allow time for dialogue and efforts to resolve the issues affecting airline operations.
The strike, initially scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2026, has now been put on hold pending the outcome of a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the minister for Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
AON explained that the meeting is expected to bring together key industry players to discuss and address the challenges facing the sector, particularly the steep and persistent rise in the cost of Jet A1 fuel.
Despite suspending the action, the association made it clear that the move is conditional. It urged the minister to ensure that government agencies and aviation service providers continue to support airline operations without harassment.
The group also criticized the increasing demand for upfront payments by service providers, describing the practice as burdensome and unsustainable for operators already under financial pressure. It called for an immediate halt to the policy.
While acknowledging the Federal Government’s intervention, AON stressed that the suspension is only temporary and that its next steps will depend on the outcome of the upcoming meeting.
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