Izuchukwu Okosi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has acknowledged the planned suspension of airline operations by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) over the rising cost of jet fuel, Prime Business Africa reports.
The AON had described the situation as unrealistic and has planned to shut down domestic operations on Monday, May 9, 2022. They cited prevailing high and rising cost of jet fuel as the main reason for their planned action. The Commission, however, hopes that the airline operators would not make good their threat.
The Commission also expressed concern that the airline operators could deliberately sell tickets for flights they do not intend to operate.
In a statement by its Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, the Commission insists that it will amount to exploitation of customers if tickets were sold and they airlines still didn’t fly.
“The Commission encourages and implores domestic airlines to consider the effect of the proposed shutdown on passengers and the magnitude of difficulties and hardship associated with such an action.
“The Commission does not trivialise the disruption and potential challenge to business continuity and survivability an inordinately high cost of jet fuel presents to domestic aviation, especially coupled with other rising cost of operations and foreign exchange.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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