Air travelers today heaved a sigh of relief as Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) suspends it’s planned aviation shutdown that would have commenced this morning, Monday.

The association had threatened to suspend operations due to “high cost of maintenance.”

However, in a statement late yesterday, the association explained why it resolved to suspend the decision.
According to the association, the decision was taken “in the interest of national economy and security considerations.”

AON President, Abdulmunaf Sarina, made the suspesion announcement on Sunday in a statement jointly signed by six members of the association.

They include Abdulmunaf – Managing Director of Azman Air; Shehu Wada – Executive Director of Max Air; and Obiora Okonkwo – Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines.

Others are Roy Ilegbodu – Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air; Abdullahi Mahmood – Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors; and Allen Onyema – Chairman of Air Peace.

It would be recalled that Channels Tv, had reported earlier that “the Ministry of Aviation assured Nigerians that members of AON were reviewing their decision to withdraw services on Monday, May 9.

It also reported that “Ibom Air, Green Africa Airlines, Arik Air, Dana Air, and others said they would carry on with their normal flight schedules.”

The Sunday statement from the airlines operators association reads: “The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) wishes to inform the general public that further to numerous calls from the highest echelons in government with promises to urgently intervene in the crises being faced by airlines due to the astronomic and continuously rising cost of JetA1, that the AON has acceded to requests to withdraw the action for the time being while we allow for a fresh round of dialogue with the government in the hope of reaching an amicable solution.

“We have also reached this decision with the highest consideration for our esteemed customers who have been faced with uncertainty over the last few days and to enable them to have access to travel to their various destinations for the time being during the period of discussions with relevant authorities.

“Given the above and the interest of national economy and security considerations, AON hereby wishes to notify the general public that the earlier announced shutdown of operations on May 9, 2022, is hereby suspended in good fate pending the outcome of hopefully fruitful engagement with government,” the statement said.