Nigeria’s Arik Air cuts flights amid fuel shortage

Nigeria’s biggest airline, Arik Air, has suspended more than 55% of its domestic flights because of chronic shortages of aviation fuel.

Workers at the airline have also gone on strike today in protest over pay and working conditions.

The flight cancellations will bring fresh misery to thousands of Nigerians trying to fly home for the Christmas holidays.

In a statement, Arik Air said it was getting less than half the aviation fuel it requires to maintain its service.

In light of the shortages the airline’s deputy managing director told the BBC the company had been forced to slash its schedule.

But other airlines are still operating and Arik’s business practices have been widely criticised in the past.

Nigeria’s aviation industry is chaotic – travellers are used to poor service – flight delays and cancellations are common.

But the recent fuel shortages appear to have been worsened by the country’s shortage of foreign currency required to pay for aviation fuel.

Despite being a major oil producer, Nigeria imports all of its aviatio