Flights Restart as Unions Halt Industrial Action Temporarily

Domestic airlines have started resuming flight services after aviation unions paused their industrial action. The action had disrupted flights and left many passengers stranded at airports in Lagos and Abuja.

This temporary pause has reduced the immediate impact on air travel, but the disagreement between the unions and airline operators is still not resolved.

Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines have resumed operations, but many passengers are still facing delays.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, the spokesperson for Air Peace, confirmed that the airline resumed operations. He noted they are working hard to accommodate passengers affected by the action.

Mr Efe mentioned that Air Peace operates around 70 regional and international flights each day. As of Tuesday afternoon, they had canceled 29 flights, and more cancellations could follow as they assess how many flights can operate with passengers waiting at the airports.

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

He added that the unions had announced at the airport that the industrial action was temporarily suspended.

"Yes, they stated that it has been suspended," he said.

However, Mr Efe warned that the unions mentioned the action might continue the next day, targeting other airlines.

"They stated that they will continue tomorrow. That they are done with their first phase, which is Air Peace, and they will come back for the other airlines, which will be communicated in due course. We don’t know which airline they want to picket," he explained.

United Nigeria Airlines also announced that it had resumed flight operations after the unions' temporary pause.

In a statement on Tuesday, the airline said its morning flights were affected by the action.

"Please note that our scheduled morning flights were impacted. We are working to ensure that all affected passengers are accommodated and reunited with their destinations as soon as possible," the airline stated.

They thanked passengers for their patience and advised them to reach out to customer service for updates or help.

The resumption of services came after hours of disruption where passengers in Lagos and Abuja could not proceed with their planned journeys.

PREMIUM TIMES reported earlier that aviation unions had picketed Air Peace operations and blocked access to some airport terminals, stopping flights and leaving passengers stranded.

Air Peace said that the entrances to its departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, including the Alpha and Zulu terminals, Terminal 2 in Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport terminal in Abuja, had been blocked.

The airline said this blockage stopped scheduled flights from leaving Lagos and Abuja and seriously affected passengers traveling across its network.

The industrial action stemmed from a dispute between aviation unions and domestic airlines regarding the payment of the five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and claims about workers’ rights to join unions.

The unions, which include the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), accused some airlines of preventing their workers from joining unions freely.

They also claimed that airlines collected the five percent TSC from passengers but did not pay the money to the right aviation agencies.

The unions demanded guarantees that workers can join any union they choose without fear of being punished and that the TSC they say has been collected but held back is paid.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) warned the aviation unions against disrupting flights over the TSC issue.

The operators said domestic airlines are already struggling with high aviation fuel costs and various charges imposed on them.

Air Peace has denied the claims regarding its dealings with aviation unions, stating it does not owe ₦25 billion in dues and has been following rules on the payment of the five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

In a separate statement regarding the allegations, the airline said it has been following the latest guidelines from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) about paying the applicable TSC to the right regulatory body.

The airline also noted that its employees have chosen not to join the unions.

"Air Peace does not owe ₦25 billion in statutory dues. The airline, like other Nigerian airlines, has been complying with the recent directives of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regarding the remittance of the applicable five percent Ticket Sales Charge to the relevant regulatory body," it added.

It further stated, "Our employees freely and peacefully exercised their constitutional right to decline union membership."

Air Peace also rejected claims that its workers are denied welfare benefits. They stated that their employees are not owed salaries and have access to benefits like health insurance through a health maintenance organization (HMO).

The airline said its workers have been involved in important decisions and will not allow what it called unlawful interference with its operations or intimidation of its workforce.

Air Peace also claimed that its operations were unfairly targeted for picketing while other airlines were allowed to operate.

They said the blockade of their terminals caused disruptions and left passengers stranded, insisting that the airline and its passengers were not to blame for the chaos.

Air Peace also alleged that some of its staff were physically attacked during the industrial action for resisting pressure to join the unions.

"Air Peace employees were physically assaulted following their resistance to joining the unions and their opposition to the disruptive action," the airline stated, calling it a violation of its employees’ rights.

The airline said the disruption led to significant financial losses, estimating them at over ₦1 billion.

They expressed worry about the broader effects of disrupting airport operations, especially for an aviation sector already facing many challenges.

"This selective disruption, if not looked into, could have consequences the nation can ill afford," the airline said.

Air Peace has called for an investigation into the incidents and stated it is committed to the welfare and safety of its employees and passengers.

The airline is also ready to work with relevant authorities and stakeholders to resolve the issue.

The temporary pause followed a call from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the unions to stop the action and talk things over.

PREMIUM TIMES also reported that NCAA Director-General, Chris Najomo, urged the unions to be patient until the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, returns. The minister is trying to fix the dispute.

Mr Najomo stated that a meeting set up by the minister last week could have addressed the complaints, but it could not happen because airline operators did not attend.

The NCAA urged all parties to engage in dialogue and cooperation, expressing hope that the issue will be resolved soon and normal flight operations will be restored.

The regulator assured passengers that flight safety remains a top priority and that it continues to carry out its safety oversight duties.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also reassured passengers that airport operations would continue during the industrial action.

FAAN said it is working with relevant aviation agencies, airlines, security agencies, and other stakeholders to lessen the impact of the action and keep airport operations running smoothly.

They also mentioned that earlier problems affecting some flights have been sorted out through teamwork between agencies.

Now that operations are resuming, airlines are working to help passengers whose flights were canceled or delayed during the industrial action. The temporary pause has allowed airlines to begin restoring services, but the disagreement is still ongoing.

But the aviation unions have indicated that their action could restart today, targeting other airlines in the next phases.

For passengers, the main worry is whether their flights will run as planned after a day of disruptions.

Airlines have told affected passengers to contact their customer service teams and keep an eye on official channels for updates as normal services are gradually restored.