Investigations have revealed that West and Central Africa biggest airline, Arik Air spent a total of over N15.7 on aviation fuel, known as Jet A1 in 2016.
In January the airline spent N1, 098, 019, 484.53 for a total of 9, 866, 219 litres of Jet A1and major supplier Total Nigeria Plc, Cleanserve and Conoil.
In February the airline expended N1, 064, 207, 052.06 on 9, 280, 852 litres of the product and suppliers were So Aviation, MRS Plc, Conoil and Total Nigeria Plc.
In March the airline spent N950, 053, 558. 73 for 9, 411, 972 litres of aviation fuel and the products were supplied by So Aviation, MRS Plc, Conoil and Total Nigeria Plc.
Also in April, Arik bought 9, 965, 551 litres of aviation fuel at the cost of N1, 009, 375, 269. 19 and suppliers were So Aviation, MRS Plc, Conoil and Total Nigeria Plc.
In May the airline expended the sum of N1,075, 147, 157. 30 to purchase 9, 958, 768 litres of aviation fuel supplied by MRS Plc and Total Nigeria Plc.
The airline spent N1, 275, 808, 684.21 for 9, 271, 528 litres of Jet A1 supplied by MRS Plc, Total and Conoil.
In July when aviation scarcity got worse, Arik was able to buy 8, 322, 172 litres of Jet A1 for N1, 327, 616, 436.70 and was supplied by So Aviation, MRS Plc, Total Nigeria Plc and Conoil.
The nation’s major carrier also purchased 9, 497, 447 at the cost of N1, 826, 193, 349.15 in August supplied by So Aviation, MRS Plc, Total Nigeria Plc and Conoil.
In September the airline spent a total of N1, 424,309, 042. 85 for 7,173, 016 litres of aviation fuel supplied by So Aviation, MRS Plc, Total Nigeria Plc and Conoil.
Arik purchased a total of 8, 590, 610 litres of aviation fuel in October at the cost of N1, 668, 794, 895.03 supplied by So Aviation, Mrs Plc, Total Nigeria Plc and Conoil.
In November Arik purchased 8, 000, 635 litres of aviation fuel at the cost of N1, 651, 852, 409.76 from So Aviation, MRS Plc, Total Nigeria Plc and Conoil and in December the airline purchased 6, 021, 951 litres of fuel at the cost of N1, 331, 296, 193. 56.
Informed source said that most purchases of aviation fuel by domestic airlines are done cash and carry but international sales takes more or less about 45 days before payment is made.
But many airlines have said that they crave for uninterrupted supply and at a cheaper price of aviation fuel so that airfares can come down so that more people can travel by air.
