Passengers Stranded As Aviation Fuel Scarcity Bites Harder
By Daniel Adugbo, 11 July 2014Domestic and international flight operators in the country have been facing severe disruptions in their operations, this week, as a result of shortage of aviation fuel.
Already, the development has forced some airlines to reschedule or, in some cases, cancel their flights.
Daily Trust findings revealed that Abuja was severely hit by the development as the shortage of jet fuel, otherwise called Jet-A1, has forced some airlines to fly first to other cities to fuel before heading to Abuja.
Yesterday, for instance, most flights out of Abuja airport didn't take off on schedule and the departure hall of the airport witnessed an unprecedented number of anxious passengers waiting for departure to their respective destinations.
Specifically, passengers aboard Arik Flight W3 416 and Aero Flight 157, all Uyo bound, could not hide their disappointments over the delay of their flights scheduled for 10:45am and 11:05am respectively which were said to have gone to refuel.
Airline officials made frantic efforts to appease passengers, saying: "There's scarcity of Jet A-1 presently in the country. The plane went to refuel that is why this flight was delayed, please bear with us."
It is not explicitly clear why aviation fuel is scarce in the country now but findings by our reporter showed that though jet fuel price has not increased, the product was not available while airline operators appealed to fuel marketers to make the product available.
Presently, the price of aviation fuel fluctuates between N160, N180 to N200 per litre, depending on where it is bought and other factors.
When contacted, spokesperson for Abuja Zonal Branch of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Mr. M.B Saidu said "We have to make special inquiry (on the scarcity) because they don't lift aviation fuel like they lift all other fuel."
Spokesperson for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) could not be immediately reached for comments.
Already, the development has forced some airlines to reschedule or, in some cases, cancel their flights.
Daily Trust findings revealed that Abuja was severely hit by the development as the shortage of jet fuel, otherwise called Jet-A1, has forced some airlines to fly first to other cities to fuel before heading to Abuja.
Yesterday, for instance, most flights out of Abuja airport didn't take off on schedule and the departure hall of the airport witnessed an unprecedented number of anxious passengers waiting for departure to their respective destinations.
Specifically, passengers aboard Arik Flight W3 416 and Aero Flight 157, all Uyo bound, could not hide their disappointments over the delay of their flights scheduled for 10:45am and 11:05am respectively which were said to have gone to refuel.
Airline officials made frantic efforts to appease passengers, saying: "There's scarcity of Jet A-1 presently in the country. The plane went to refuel that is why this flight was delayed, please bear with us."
It is not explicitly clear why aviation fuel is scarce in the country now but findings by our reporter showed that though jet fuel price has not increased, the product was not available while airline operators appealed to fuel marketers to make the product available.
Presently, the price of aviation fuel fluctuates between N160, N180 to N200 per litre, depending on where it is bought and other factors.
When contacted, spokesperson for Abuja Zonal Branch of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Mr. M.B Saidu said "We have to make special inquiry (on the scarcity) because they don't lift aviation fuel like they lift all other fuel."
Spokesperson for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) could not be immediately reached for comments.
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