Rano Air has temporarily suspended operations on some of its domestic routes due to the sharp rise in the cost of Jet A1 aviation fuel, which the airline said has increased by over 300 percent.
In a statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, the airline’s management described the situation as “extremely challenging and commercially unsustainable,” forcing it to take the difficult decision to suspend affected routes.
Although the airline did not immediately disclose the specific routes to be suspended, a source familiar with the development told Daily Trust that Maiduguri and Gombe are among those likely to be affected.
The carrier currently operates flights to Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, and Osubi.
The source added that more than 50 percent of the airline’s routes may be temporarily suspended, with management expected to issue a final list soon.
In the statement, Rano Air expressed regret over the inconvenience to passengers and business partners, assuring affected customers of refunds, rescheduling, or rerouting options.
The airline said operations on the suspended routes would resume once the situation improves and becomes commercially viable.
“This significant increase in fuel prices has greatly impacted the aviation industry and placed enormous pressure on our flight operations,” the statement read.
The development comes amid an ongoing aviation fuel crisis that has seen domestic airlines lament the high cost of Jet A1, which some operators say is still hovering around N3,000 per litre.
This is despite the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) pegging the official price at N2,039 per litre in Abuja.
A planned indefinite shutdown by airlines was earlier averted following government intervention, but operators say the situation remains dire, worsened by global oil supply disruptions linked to the Middle East crisis.
Rano Air urged passengers to contact its customer service for assistance on already booked flights.
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