Flight operations across Nigeria have been significantly disrupted as industrial action against Air Peace intensifies after the carrier failed to reach an agreement with aviation workers’ unions. Major airlines have reported rescheduling or cancelling dozens of flights due to Air Peace picketing and the disruption it has caused at the country’s major airports. Passengers have also been left stranded as uncertainty remains as to when operations will resume normally.
Industrial Action Intensifies Against Air Peace
Multiple major airports in Nigeria have faced significant disruption to scheduled operations as strikes against Air Peace intensified on Aug. 11. The disruption was caused by union members picketing and barricading airport terminals.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) organised and led the industrial action. Access to terminals in Lagos and Abuja has been primarily affected.
The industrial action stems from an ongoing dispute between labour unions and Air Peace over the airline’s alleged anti-union practices. Unions have accused Air Peace of casualising workers and withholding statutory funds. Casualisation refers to a growing number of employees receiving part-time or temporary contracts rather than full-time, permanent positions. Workers’ unions claimed that the carrier owes up to 15 billion Naira ($11,091,065) in ticket sales charges.
Some reports also allege that Air Peace had prevented its employees from freely joining trade unions.
TUC President Festus Osifo said in a briefing that he fully supported the aviation workers’ action against Air Peace, emphasising that employees have the right to unionise and that TUC would continue to support the unions’ efforts.
Pleas to Suspend Industrial Action as Picketing Continues
As part of their industrial action, members of the NLC, ATSSSAN, and TUC have picketed some of Nigeria’s major airports and departure facilities. Entrances to departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport (LOS) in Lagos, as well as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV) terminal in Abuja, have been barricaded.
Air Peace confirmed the barricading of entrances to their key terminals was disrupting operations and apologised to passengers for the delays and inconvenience caused by “circumstances beyond their control”. The airline also said it would contact passengers about rescheduling flights and would keep an updated log as the situation evolved.
Air Peace is not alone in being affected by the industrial action, however. Enugu Air is another airline whose operations have been significantly altered by the strikes. Despite operating only domestic services within Nigeria, the carrier was forced to reschedule several flights after the closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. A spokesperson from the management of Enugu Air said:
“Please be informed that due to an ongoing industrial action at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where union workers are denying staff access into the airport terminal, operations at the airport have been temporarily suspended.”
Similarly, United Nigeria Airlines cited passenger and crew safety as the primary reason for suspending flight operations as the strikes continued.
As disruptions continue and more passengers are affected by industrial action, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to unions to suspend their industrial action while awaiting the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The NCAA said Keyamo has been actively working to resolve the dispute and expressed concern about the continued airport closures.
In addition, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it is closely monitoring the situation to minimise the impact of strike action on airline customers. FAAN is a government organisation responsible for managing federal airports. A spokesperson said:
“In the interim, FAAN is working closely with the relevant aviation agencies, airlines, security agencies and other stakeholders to minimise the impact of the industrial action and ensure that airport operations are not disrupted.”
No resolution has been reached, and operations at key Nigerian airports and across major airlines remain significantly impaired by industrial action.
Have you ever had a flight disrupted or cancelled by industrial action? Let us know in the comments.
