With the rising cost of aviation fuel that is sold for between N140 and N150 per litre, the nine domestic airlines in the country, operating over 600 flights of one hour duration daily in and out of the 14 airports in the country, expend an average of N320million on fuel everyday.

The airlines which include Aero, Arik, Associated, Bellview, Capital, Chanchangi, IRS, Overland and Virgin Nigeria are mostly operating the Boeing 737 aircraft, Bombardier Dash 8, CRJ 700 and 900, Fokker 50, Embraer 125, ATR and Beechcraft1900. They are jet-engine and turbo-prop engine type of aircraft.

A normal one hour flight, Lagos-Abuja in a Boeing 737-300 without delay or bad weather will require a quantity of about 3,420 litres of fuel (6,000Ibs).

This, if multiplied by the price of a litre at N150 will amount to N513, 000 (over half a million naira).

A Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft will require 1,200Ibs (684litres)of fuel for a one hour journey without delay or bad weather.

This, if multiplied by N150 price per litre will amount to N102, 600.

However, for safety purpose, an aircraft requires more than the normal one hour flight fuel consumption due to unexpected delays by Air Traffic Controllers, VIP movement or bad weather.

Seventy five percent of the aircraft used by the airlines are the jet-engine Boeing 737 type while 25 percent are the turbo-prop engine of between 30-50-seater.

An airline will require at least 70 percent load factor to breakeven at the current fare charge for a one hour flight, depending on the aircraft type and destination.

Other costs of operating an aircraft include landing and parking charges, in-flight service, airport tax, personnel and aircraft maintenance.