Nigeria: Scarcity of Aviation Fuel Persists, Affects Flights

The air transport industry is facing scarcity of aviation fuel, also known as Jet A1, resulting in flight delays and cancellations, Daily Trust findings have shown.


It was gathered that the Consumer Protection Department of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been inundated with reports of delays or flight cancellations.

Virtually all the airlines are affected as they struggle to get Jet A1 to fuel their aircraft. Experts say the scarcity is linked to the lingering scarcity of petrol even though both are different.

Jet A1 or aviation fuel is the purest kind of kerosene. Unlike the normal household kerosene, aviation kerosene is mixed with additives which prevent it from icing due to high temperature.

An aviation expert, Capt. Dele Ore, said unless the country begins to refine locally, the scarcity would continue, adding, "Anything fuel in this country now is in short supply. If you have nothing to put in the aircraft, then the aircraft cannot fly. These aircraft need tonnes and tonnes of fuel, not 10 litres".

Arik Air, Med-View, Dana, Air Peace, among others confirmed that the scarcity affects their operations.

A spokesman for Dana Air, Kingsley Okwudili, said, "It is across board. This is an industry-wide problem but we are doing everything possible to make sure that things go well as soon as possible".

Arik Air, which has the highest number of flights per day, recently said the scarcity was affecting its operations. Last week, Med-View Airline apologized to passengers for the delay recently experienced.

(Culled from allafrica.com)