The aviation unions’ industrial action has exposed the wider operational and economic vulnerabilities of Nigeria’s air transport sector, disrupting flights, stranding passengers and imposing significant costs on airlines even as the unions suspended the strike.
The action, which lasted several hours on Tuesday, affected flight operations at major airports, particularly Lagos and Abuja, after aviation unions, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), picketed airline operations.
Air Peace reported that more than 70 of its flights were affected, with the airline estimating its financial losses at over ₦2 billion. United Nigeria Airlines also recorded significant disruption, with more than 30 scheduled flights affected after the carrier suspended some operations.
The disruption had consequences beyond individual airlines, affecting passengers, connecting flights, airport activities and the wider aviation ecosystem. Travellers were left stranded or forced to rearrange journeys, while airlines had to adjust aircraft and crew schedules, accommodate affected passengers and reorganise services as operations resumed.
The industrial action stemmed from a dispute between aviation unions and domestic airlines over the remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and allegations that some airlines were restricting employees from joining trade unions.
The unions have maintained that the TSC collected from passengers constitutes an important source of operational funding for aviation agencies and that failure by airlines to remit the funds affects the implementation of negotiated conditions of service for workers within the sector.
They have also demanded assurances that airline employees are free to join unions of their choice without intimidation or victimisation.
Air Peace, however, disputed the unions’ claims, saying it had complied with the applicable directives of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regarding the TSC. The airline also rejected allegations that it had prevented workers from unionising, arguing that its employees had voluntarily chosen not to belong to unions.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, Air Peace Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, said the disruption had inflicted substantial financial and operational damage on the airline and affected thousands of passengers.
She also alleged that some Air Peace employees were physically assaulted during the picketing, including a female staff member, and called for an independent investigation into the incident.
According to Olajide, the disruption also raised concerns about airport security, the protection of critical aviation infrastructure and the confidence of international partners and aircraft lessors in Nigeria’s aviation operating environment.
She said the airline had video evidence and other information that could assist authorities in investigating the incident.
Air Peace further referenced a 2024 Federal High Court judgment which it said restrained labour unions from coercing its employees into union membership or disrupting its operations. The airline argued that its employees have a constitutional right to decide whether or not to belong to a union.
The unions, however, rejected the airline’s allegations and maintained that their grievances were legitimate. Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) Secretary-General, Frances Akinjole, said the union would respond to the allegations at the appropriate time, describing claims that formed the basis of the airline’s position as unfounded.
The impact of the industrial action was not limited to Air Peace. United Nigeria Airlines also experienced extensive disruption, with several aircraft scheduled to operate multiple sectors unable to maintain their planned rotations.
The affected fleet included Boeing, CRJ and Embraer aircraft, with the airline estimating that about 1,200 passengers could have been carried on the affected sectors under normal operating conditions.
The disruption also created knock-on effects for passengers connecting through Lagos and Abuja, with cancelled and delayed services affecting onward journeys, accommodation arrangements, business engagements and other travel commitments.
For airlines, the interruption came with additional costs associated with disrupted schedules, aircraft utilisation, crew planning, passenger accommodation and recovery operations. For airports and other aviation service providers, the action added further pressure to an industry already dealing with high operating costs, infrastructure constraints and other operational challenges.
The episode has also highlighted the potential consequences of industrial disputes in an aviation system where the activities of airlines, airports, regulators, unions, ground handlers, security agencies and other service providers are closely interconnected.
Although the unions have suspended the industrial action, the underlying dispute remains unresolved. The development has therefore renewed calls for a negotiated solution that addresses workers’ concerns while protecting passengers, airline operations, airport security and the continuity of air transport services.
The latest disruption demonstrates that prolonged industrial disputes in aviation can quickly extend beyond labour relations, with consequences for passenger confidence, airline finances, airport operations and the broader economy.
For Nigeria’s aviation sector, resolving the dispute without further disruption will be critical to maintaining operational stability and protecting the confidence of passengers and industry stakeholders.
