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Nigerian airlines are seeking President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to survive a wave of soaring costs, with Air Peace chairman Allen Onyema warning that high jet fuel prices, multiple taxes and expensive loans are pushing carriers to the brink. He says operators want an urgent meeting with the presidency to spell out the threat.
Onyema, who also speaks for fellow operators, painted a grim picture of an industry running on borrowed money just to stay airborne. His comments add to months of warnings that Nigeria’s aviation sector is one of the most fragile in the world.
Why Nigerian airlines are under pressure
At the heart of the crisis is aviation fuel. According to operators, the price of Jet A1 has surged dramatically in recent months, climbing several times over within a short period. Because fuel makes up a huge share of an airline’s running costs, every spike eats straight into already thin margins and forces carriers to make hard choices on routes and fares.
Onyema said airlines have borrowed heavily simply to keep buying fuel and maintain schedules. With many operators relying on credit, any sustained rise in costs quickly turns into a debt problem that threatens their survival.
The burden of high interest rates
Beyond fuel, the Air Peace boss pointed to punishing borrowing costs. Commercial loan rates in Nigeria have climbed sharply, leaving airlines paying some of the highest interest in the sector anywhere. Onyema urged the government to strengthen the Bank of Industry and other channels so that carriers can access cheaper, longer-term financing tailored to aviation.
He argued that without affordable credit, local airlines cannot invest in newer aircraft, expand fleets or weather shocks. That, he warned, is why so many Nigerian carriers have collapsed over the years, giving the country one of the highest airline mortality rates globally.
Multiple taxes and charges
Operators also complain about a thicket of taxes, levies and regulatory charges that pile onto every ticket and every flight. Onyema said the combined weight of these payments leaves little room to absorb external shocks such as fuel spikes or a weaker naira. The operators want a review that simplifies charges and gives the industry breathing space.
The concern is not only commercial. A healthy domestic aviation network supports trade, tourism, security and connectivity across Nigeria’s vast geography, where road travel can be long and risky. When airlines fold, passengers face fewer choices, higher fares and crowded schedules.
What the airlines want from government
The operators are asking for a coordinated response: support to stabilise fuel supply and pricing, access to cheaper financing, and a friendlier tax regime. They believe targeted help would protect jobs, keep fares within reach and preserve the gains made in opening new domestic and international routes in recent years.
Onyema framed the appeal as a fight for the survival of an entire sector rather than a bailout for individual firms. He stressed that a strong, locally owned aviation industry is a national asset that should not be allowed to wither.
For now, passengers are watching fares closely as carriers juggle rising costs. The industry hopes that engagement with the presidency will produce relief before more airlines are forced out of the skies.
