Flight operations of Air Peace have been disrupted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja following an ongoing industrial action by aviation unions.
The development has left passengers stranded and affected scheduled flights across the airline’s network.
The industrial action involves the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), with the support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The unions are protesting alleged anti-union practices by some airlines and the non-remittance of the mandatory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
They are demanding that airline workers be allowed to join unions of their choice without intimidation, victimisation or discrimination, as well as the payment of withheld TSC revenues to aviation agencies.
The unions and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have argued that failure to remit the funds affects the operations of aviation agencies and hampers the implementation of negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreements for workers.
The labour unions had earlier issued a strike notice on August 4 but subsequently granted defaulting airlines a three-day ultimatum as a final opportunity for dialogue.
The situation escalated at the Lagos airport, where Air Peace reportedly deployed buses to block a taxiway, disrupting the movement of other airlines.
In a statement, Air Peace confirmed that its operations had been temporarily disrupted by the industrial action and picketing at the airports.
The airline said the action resulted in the barricading of entrances to its departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, including the Alpha and Zulu Terminals, Terminal 2 in Lagos, and its terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
According to Air Peace, the blockade prevented scheduled flights from departing Lagos and Abuja and significantly affected passengers travelling across its network.
The airline apologised to affected and stranded passengers, saying the disruption was caused by circumstances beyond its control.
It added that passengers scheduled to travel later in the day were being contacted and provided with updates as the situation developed.
Air Peace said it was monitoring the situation and would issue further updates as necessary.
The development comes as the NCAA appealed to aviation unions to suspend the industrial action and exercise restraint pending the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who is working to resolve the dispute.
The NCAA also assured the travelling public that flight safety remained uncompromised and that it continued to carry out its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
