Airlines Resume Flight Operations as Unions Suspend Industrial Action Temporarily

Domestic airlines have resumed flight operations after aviation unions temporarily suspended industrial action over a dispute concerning the remittance of the five per cent ticket sales charge.

Air Peace confirmed that it had resumed operations but was still working to clear the backlog of passengers stranded by the disruption.

The airline’s spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, said Air Peace, which operates about 70 regional and international flights daily, had cancelled 29 flights as of Tuesday afternoon, with further cancellations possible.

“We are trying to see how many flights we can operate with the amount of passengers who have been waiting at the airport,” Efe said.

He confirmed that the unions had announced the temporary suspension of the industrial action at the airport.

Efe, however, said the unions indicated that the suspension was only the first phase of their action and that they could return to picket other airlines.

United Nigeria Airlines also announced the resumption of its flight operations, saying some scheduled morning flights had been affected by the industrial action.

The airline said it was working to accommodate affected passengers and ensure they reached their destinations.

Passengers seeking updates or assistance were advised to contact the airline’s customer service team.

The industrial action had earlier disrupted domestic flight operations and affected access to terminals at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The dispute centres on the five per cent ticket sales charge that airlines are required to remit.

Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Chris Najomo, had appealed to the unions to suspend the action and embrace dialogue.

Najomo said the dispute could have been addressed at a meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the previous week, but the meeting could not hold because airline operators failed to attend.

The industrial action came days after the Airline Operators of Nigeria warned aviation unions against disrupting flight operations over the ticket sales charge dispute.

The operators argued that domestic airlines were already facing severe financial pressure due to high aviation fuel costs and multiple charges imposed on the industry.