Airline Operators of Nigeria warn that all member airlines could immediately halt domestic operations if aviation unions again disrupt any carrier
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has warned that domestic airlines could shut down flight operations nationwide if aviation unions repeat the disruptions that affected airline services at major Nigerian airports in August.
The warning follows an AON general meeting in Abuja on September 23, where airline operators reviewed the disruption of Air Peace operations at Lagos and Abuja airports on August 11 and discussed broader security and operational challenges facing the industry.
AON said its members had adopted a collective position that any repeat of the August incident against a domestic airline would trigger an industry-wide shutdown.
The association described the August action as a serious disruption to airline operations and referred to it as “unlawful interference” with aviation activities under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 17.
Importantly, the airlines have not announced a current shutdown. The warning is conditional: AON says its members would suspend operations nationwide if similar union disruptions happen again.
What triggered the dispute?
The dispute between Nigerian airlines and aviation unions has centred on statutory payments and workers' rights to unionise.
On August 11, aviation unions picketed Air Peace operations at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The action affected access to departure terminals and check-in areas and resulted in the cancellation and disruption of scheduled flights.
The unions had raised concerns about airlines' alleged failure to remit Ticket Sales Charges and other statutory obligations.
They also objected to what they described as attempts by airline operators to prevent employees from exercising their right to belong to trade unions.
The industrial action was eventually suspended following intervention by the Federal Government, with aviation authorities and stakeholders subsequently holding meetings aimed at resolving the underlying disagreements.
However, the disagreement has not completely disappeared.
AON's latest statement shows that airline operators now regard another airport blockade or similar disruption as a matter extending beyond a conventional labour dispute.
Air Peace lost more than ₦2 billion, AON says
The August disruption had a significant effect on passenger travel.
According to AON, more than 70 Air Peace flights were affected, with the airline estimating losses of more than ₦2 billion.
United Nigeria Airlines also had more than 30 flights disrupted, with about 13,000 passengers affected, according to figures cited by the operators.
The airlines said the consequences extended beyond the immediate cancellation of flights.
Carriers had to rebook passengers, provide accommodation in some cases, process refunds, reposition crew and reschedule aircraft.
Those additional costs come as Nigerian airlines are already dealing with high operating expenses, including aviation fuel, aircraft maintenance and foreign-exchange-related costs.
AON argued that another disruption could therefore create significant financial consequences for airlines and passengers across the country.
Why AON calls the disruption a security issue
The operators' latest position focuses heavily on airport security.
AON said the events of August 11 exposed weaknesses in the security arrangements surrounding airline terminals and operational areas.
The association said access to airline departure terminals, check-in counters, offices and workstations was blocked during the protest.
It also alleged that some airline employees were assaulted.
AON consequently called for a review of airport security and emergency-response procedures, including the role of Aviation Security personnel.
The association linked its concerns to the ICAO framework on unlawful interference with civil aviation.
The reference is significant because international aviation security rules are designed to protect aircraft, passengers, crews, airports and aviation facilities from acts that can compromise the safety and security of civil aviation.
AON argued that preventing airline workers from accessing operational areas created a security concern that should not be treated solely as a labour dispute.
The characterization, however, is AON's position on the August incident. The unions have disputed the airlines' portrayal of their action and have maintained that they were pursuing labour-related demands.
Unions had raised statutory payment concerns
At the centre of the dispute is the Ticket Sales Charge, or TSC, and other statutory obligations.
Aviation unions had accused airlines of failing to remit money collected for aviation agencies.
The charges involve agencies including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology and Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
The unions argued that outstanding statutory payments could affect the operations and finances of aviation agencies.
The airlines, however, have disputed aspects of the unions' claims and the amounts involved.
That disagreement was one of the issues that eventually led to the August picketing.
The Federal Government subsequently intervened, bringing airlines, aviation unions and relevant agencies together for discussions on payment arrangements and the wider labour dispute.
Unionisation remains another major disagreement
The dispute is not limited to money.
Workers' rights to unionise have also become an important point of disagreement between airline operators and aviation unions.
The Federal Government has said employees should be able to decide whether they want to belong to a trade union.
The issue has particular significance in an industry where pilots, engineers, cabin crew, ground personnel and other aviation workers perform safety-sensitive duties.
Airline operators have argued that employees should have freedom of choice, while unions have continued to push for access to workers and recognition of collective labour rights.
The two sides have therefore approached the issue from different perspectives, with the unions emphasizing workers' rights and statutory obligations and the airlines emphasizing operational continuity and passenger protection.
Airlines blame several factors for flight disruptions
AON also used its September meeting to respond to wider criticism over flight delays and cancellations in Nigeria.
The association said airlines have no incentive to deliberately delay or cancel flights because disruptions result in lost revenue and damage to their reputation.
Instead, AON identified several factors that it says contribute to unreliable flight schedules.
These include adverse weather and harmattan conditions, congestion around aircraft parking areas at Lagos and Abuja airports, limited operating hours at some secondary airports, VIP airspace movements, bird strikes, foreign-object damage, fuel availability, air-traffic-flow restrictions and inadequate airport infrastructure.
The operators also said aviation fuel prices had risen above ₦2,500 per litre, while supply remains unreliable at some secondary airports.
Fuel costs are particularly important for domestic airlines because Jet A1 represents one of the largest recurring operating expenses for carriers.
Higher fuel prices can increase the cost of tickets, while supply problems can complicate flight scheduling and aircraft deployment.
AON wants airlines involved in Lagos airport reconstruction
The operators also raised concerns about the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
AON welcomed the infrastructure work but said domestic airlines should be involved early in the process.
The association argued that airlines are among the primary users of airport facilities and therefore have practical knowledge about passenger movement, aircraft operations, check-in processes, baggage handling and other operational requirements.
According to AON, involving carriers during the planning and design stages could help identify potential problems before new facilities become operational.
The demand comes as Nigeria continues to invest in improving airport infrastructure across the country.
For airlines, however, infrastructure improvements need to be matched with reliable operational systems, adequate passenger facilities and efficient aircraft movement.
Nationwide shutdown would affect passengers across Nigeria
A nationwide shutdown by AON member airlines would have consequences far beyond the original labour dispute.
Domestic air travel connects major commercial centres such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Owerri, Benin City and other destinations.
Air transport is particularly important for passengers travelling between locations where road journeys can take many hours.
A coordinated suspension by domestic airlines could therefore leave thousands of passengers without scheduled flights and place additional pressure on road transportation.
It could also affect businesses that depend on air travel, including hotels, tourism operators, corporate travellers, logistics companies and event organizers.
The August disruption provided an indication of how quickly problems at major hubs can spread.
Because Lagos and Abuja serve as important connection points for domestic flights, disruptions at either airport can affect passengers travelling to destinations beyond the location where the original action takes place.
A warning, not a current strike
Despite the strength of AON's language, passengers are not currently facing an announced nationwide airline shutdown.
The association's position is conditional on a repeat of the type of disruption that occurred on August 11.
AON said that if any domestic airline is again subjected to similar union action, all its member airlines could immediately shut down operations.
That distinction is important for travellers because the latest development does not mean Nigerian airlines have grounded their aircraft.
Rather, it represents an escalation in the dispute between airline operators and aviation unions.
The threat puts additional pressure on both sides to resolve their disagreements through negotiations rather than another airport confrontation.
Government faces pressure to prevent another disruption
The Federal Government now faces the task of maintaining dialogue between airlines, unions, regulators and other aviation stakeholders.
The August intervention temporarily restored operations, but the latest AON warning demonstrates that tensions remain.
A repeat of the earlier disruption could potentially affect passengers on a much larger scale if all AON member airlines follow through on the proposed shutdown.
The government will therefore need to balance several competing concerns: airlines' need to maintain uninterrupted commercial operations, unions' demands over statutory obligations and workers' rights, airport security requirements and the interests of passengers.
For travellers, the immediate situation remains normal, but the dispute is one to watch.
The airlines' message is clear: another disruption targeting a domestic carrier could result in an industry-wide response.
For now, however, Nigeria's domestic airlines remain operational, and the nationwide shutdown remains a conditional threat rather than an active closure of the country's flight network.
