Rano Air has temporarily suspended some of its flight operations following a sharp surge in aviation fuel prices, a situation operators describe as exerting intense pressure on the industry.

In a public notice issued on Friday, the local carrier said the escalating cost of aviation fuel has made it increasingly challenging to maintain services on certain routes, prompting management to scale back operations for now.

The airline disclosed that Jet A1 prices have climbed by more than 300 per cent, significantly driving up operating expenses and undermining the commercial viability of some routes.

“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 per cent, the operational cost of sustaining some of our routes has become extremely challenging and commercially unsustainable,” the statement read.

The airline said the move to suspend some operations was made with great reluctance, stressing that the escalating fuel crisis has put significant pressure on the entire aviation sector.

The airline added that the sharp rise in fuel costs has had a severe impact on the aviation sector and placed considerable strain on its flight operations. It said it had therefore taken the “difficult but necessary decision” to temporarily suspend some routes.

Apologising for the disruption, Rano Air assured passengers that support measures have been put in place for affected bookings, including refunds, rescheduling, and rerouting options.

The statement further read, “We sincerely regret the inconvenience this may cause to our esteemed passengers and business partners. Please be assured that this decision was made after careful consideration and in the interest of maintaining safe, reliable, and sustainable operations.”