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Arik Air, Nigeria’s largest airline, said it will resume normal flight operations from 11am today after temporarily suspending services yesterday due to “documentation related to insurance renewal.”

The airline said affected passengers for cancelled flights will be notified via SMS on the resumption of normal operations, and will be accommodated on the next available flights.

“With the regularization of the required documents relating to the renewal of the insurance, Arik Air will be resuming its normal flying schedule from 11:00 hours on Wednesday, September 14, 2016,” the airline said in a statement posted on the company’s Facebook page. “Arik Air regrets the unfortunate inconvenience caused to its customers and reassures our customers of expedient rebooking of any affected flights.”

The Nigerian aviation industry has been hit by the country’s lingering foreign exchange shortages, which has restricted FX thereby inhibiting airlines from conducting regular maintenance checks on aircrafts. The situation has also caused a spike in the prices of aviation fuel. Two Nigerian carriers – Aero Contractors and First Nation Airways – have already suspended their operations due to the harsh operating environment.  

Foreign airlines have also been affected by the ongoing challenges as they face difficulties repatriating ticket revenues and refueling their aircrafts due to fuel shortages. United Airlines, a major US airline, and Iberia, Spain’s leading airline, cancelled their Nigeria routes earlier this year.

However, Arik Air said that the temporary suspension of its flight operations on Tuesday had nothing to do with a failure to obtain aviation fuel or the withdrawal of insurance cover for its aircraft.

“While the current scarcity of aviation fuel (JET A1) has impacted on the operations of airlines in the country, Arik Air is in good standing with its fuel suppliers and has been meeting its obligations to them and to our insurers,” the airline said.