Air Peace Faces Flight Disruptions Due to Fuel Debt Issues

Recent disruptions in flights, particularly affecting passengers of Air Peace at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, have been attributed to unpaid debts owed by airlines to aviation fuel marketers. Passengers traveling to Lagos were eventually able to depart, while those bound for Asaba and Maiduguri were left stranded overnight, prompting protests at the airport.

Sources in the aviation fuel market indicated that while Jet A1 fuel was available, some airlines could not secure fresh supplies due to outstanding debts, with one marketer stating that some carriers owed millions of naira. The price of Jet A1 fuel was reported to be approximately N2,130 per litre in Lagos and Abuja, with prices at other airports ranging from N2,180 to N2,230 per litre.

The increasing cost of aviation fuel has significantly raised operating expenses for airlines, many of which earn income in naira while facing dollar-denominated expenses. This financial strain has led some airlines to seek funds from other business areas to meet fuel obligations, raising concerns about the potential for further operational collapses.