The airline made this known in a statement issued by its management on Friday through its official account, explaining that the sharp rise in fuel costs has made servicing certain routes increasingly difficult and commercially impractical.

While Rano Air did not immediately list the affected destinations, insider sources indicated that routes such as Maiduguri and Gombe may be among those facing temporary suspension.

According to the source, who spoke anonymously because management discussions were still ongoing, more than half of the airline’s routes could potentially be impacted.

“Definitely more than 50 per cent of the routes might be suspended temporarily but the management will soon come out with a final statement on the routes,” the source disclosed.

Rano Air currently flies to several Nigerian cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi and Osubi.

In its statement, the airline described the escalating Jet A1 price as a major burden on its operations, saying it had no choice but to make a painful but necessary adjustment.

“Rano Air wishes to inform the general public and our valued passengers that, due to the unprecedented escalation in the cost of Jet A1 aviation fuel by over 300%, the operational cost of sustaining some of our routes has become extremely challenging and commercially unsustainable,” the statement said.

It added that the spike in aviation fuel prices has intensified pressure across the industry and forced the airline to suspend selected routes until conditions improve.

Rano Air apologised to passengers and business partners for the disruption, stressing that the decision was taken after careful evaluation to preserve safe, dependable and sustainable services.

The airline also assured customers with existing bookings on affected routes that arrangements for refunds, rescheduling or rerouting would be provided through its customer support channels.

According to the company, suspended routes will resume once the operating environment becomes more favourable.

Rano Air thanked passengers for their patience and loyalty, reaffirming its commitment to quality service despite the challenging circumstances.

The suspension adds to mounting concerns within Nigeria’s aviation sector, where domestic carriers have repeatedly warned that soaring Jet A1 prices are threatening the viability of airline operations.

Although previous Federal Government interventions offered temporary relief, operators maintain that fuel prices remain unsustainably high, with some airlines reportedly still buying Jet A1 for nearly ₦3,000 per litre.

While the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority recently fixed Jet A1 at ₦2,039 per litre in Abuja, with slightly cheaper rates in Lagos, industry players say global oil supply disruptions tied to the Middle East crisis continue to drive volatility and operational strain.