Domestic airlines operating under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have threatened to suspend flights nationwide if aviation unions disrupt the operations of any member airline again.

The warning was contained in a communiqué issued after the association's General Meeting in Abuja and made available to journalists on Monday, September 28.

The AON said the decision followed the August 11 picketing of Air Peace operations in Lagos and Abuja, which disrupted flights and affected passengers.

The association warned that if similar action is repeated against any domestic carrier, all AON member airlines would immediately suspend operations nationwide.

What Happened on August 11

The disruption began as early as 5am in Lagos, where union members restricted access to terminals at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

Air Peace said entrances to its departure terminals at Terminals 1 and 2 in Lagos, as well as its facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, were barricaded.

The action reportedly restricted access to departure terminals, check-in counters and airline offices, leaving passengers stranded and forcing airlines to cancel or reschedule flights.

Air Peace, Enugu Air and United Nigeria Airlines subsequently announced disruptions to their operations.

United Nigeria Airlines said it suspended flights because of concerns over the safety of passengers and crew.

Airlines Report Losses, Injuries

The AON said the incident went beyond a conventional industrial dispute, citing its impact on passengers, airline employees and airport security.

The association said there were recorded cases of violence against airline personnel and alleged that some workers were injured while attempting to carry out their duties.

According to the AON, more than 70 Air Peace flights were affected, resulting in estimated losses of more than ₦2 billion.

It also said more than 30 United Nigeria Airlines flights were disrupted, affecting about 13,000 passengers.

The airlines were subsequently required to rebook passengers, provide accommodation and process refunds, while also absorbing additional costs linked to crew repositioning, aircraft rescheduling and other recovery measures.

An earlier estimate released during the disruption put the combined losses suffered by Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines and Enugu Air at more than ₦1 billion, with over 80 flights cancelled.

Security Concerns

The AON also referenced Annex 17 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which deals with aviation security and unlawful interference.

The association said the August disruption could have significant implications for Nigeria's aviation industry, both domestically and internationally.

It also argued that the incident exposed vulnerabilities in security arrangements at the country's airports.

What the Unions Are Demanding

The industrial action involved the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), with support from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The unions accused some domestic airlines of preventing workers from joining trade unions and failing to remit the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge collected from passengers.

Union leaders also alleged that some airlines had withheld the deductions, which they said deprived aviation agencies of funds needed for their operations.

The AON's latest warning raises the prospect of another confrontation between airline operators and aviation labour unions, with passengers likely to face flight disruptions if industrial action resumes.