Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, told travellers to brace up for more flight delays and cancellations as aviation fuel scarcity bites harder.
Obiora Okonkwo, the AON spokesman, disclosed this in a statement obtained by our correspondent, in Abuja.
He said airlines are currently facing a hard time getting the commodity from suppliers which may further increase the cost of air tickets.
Okonkwo said: “there are impending disruptions in scheduled flight operations due to the scarcity of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET-A1, which reared its ugly head again in the past few days. The scarcity will no doubt force airlines to reschedule flights leading to late operations and, or, cancellations.
“This unintended development is a pain on airline operators and a stain on the industry especially at this time of mass movement of people for the Christmas and New Year festivities.
“While we do our utmost best to manage the situation and ensure safe flight operations, we plead the understanding of the traveling public in the circumstance”, he appealed.
He, therefore, called on product importers and other marketers to as a matter of urgency “resolve this ugly situation so as to ease the stress it brings on the travelling public.”
Visa Ban: Air Peace Halts Flights To Dubai
Air travellers from Nigeria to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE, will be forced to consider alternative means of transportation in the coming days.
This came as Nigeria’s indigenous airline, Air Peace suspended flight operations to the country indefinitely.
This is coming against the backdrop of the non-issuance of visas by the UAE government to Nigerians.
Vanguard reported that the country’s immigration authorities last month announced a visa ban for Nigerians without any reason.
Also, they stated that all submitted applications are rejected and fees non-refundable.
Following the development, the management of Air Peace in a statement made available to Vanguard, stated that, “We hereby inform the public, especially our Dubai passengers, that effective from Tuesday, November 22, we shall be suspending our Dubai operations till further notice.
“This is consequent upon the persisting non-issuance of visas to Nigerian travellers by the government of the United Arab Emirates and the accompanying inconveniences.
“Air Peace has been operating into UAE even with the country’s recent travel restrictions.
“But given the heightening hurdles Nigerian travellers are facing in accessing the country, it has become imperative that we halt our operations to that destination.
“We shall provide further updates as the situation progresses.
“Passengers whose flights are affected by this development can mail our call center to attend to their concerns.”
