Domestic Airlines Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Union Disruptions

Domestic airlines under the Airline Operators of Nigeria AON have threatened to shut down operations nationwide if aviation unions again disrupt the operations of any member airline.

The warning followed the August 11 picketing of Air Peace flights in Lagos and Abuja, which the operators said severely disrupted flight operations at both airports.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued after the AON General Meeting in Abuja and made available to journalists on Monday.

The association condemned what it described as violent and disruptive actions by aviation unions and other groups, saying the August incident affected passengers, airline workers and airport security.

According to the AON, union members blocked access to Air Peace departure terminals, check-in counters, offices and workstations at Terminals 1 and 2 of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The operators said the disruption resulted in flight cancellations, stranded passengers and additional costs for airlines, including passenger rebooking, accommodation and refunds.

The AON said more than 70 Air Peace flights were affected, with estimated losses exceeding N2 billion. It added that more than 30 United Nigeria Airlines flights were also disrupted, affecting about 13,000 passengers.

The dispute between the airlines and aviation unions centres on statutory payments to government agencies and allegations concerning workers' rights to unionise. The unions have argued that the non-remittance of statutory charges could have implications for the aviation sector, while also accusing airlines of preventing workers from joining unions.

The AON said its members had reached a collective position that any repeat of the August 11 incident against any domestic airline would result in an immediate industry-wide shutdown.

The association also described the disruption as a security concern, arguing that the ability of protesting groups to block access to airline terminals exposed weaknesses in airport security arrangements.

It said the incident had also increased operational costs for airlines already dealing with high aviation fuel prices and foreign-exchange-related maintenance expenses.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority had previously appealed to the unions to suspend their industrial action and pursue dialogue, while assuring passengers that flight safety remained uncompromised.

The AON said delays and cancellations were not in the interest of airlines because carriers also suffer financial and reputational consequences when passengers are kept waiting or flights are disrupted.

It urged all stakeholders in the aviation sector to resolve their differences through dialogue and avoid actions that could further disrupt air travel across the country.