Domestic airlines may suspend all scheduled flights across Nigeria if aviation unions carry out another disruption against any carrier under the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
The decision followed the August 11, 2026 industrial action that disrupted Air Peace services in Lagos and Abuja, affecting flights and leaving a number of travellers unable to continue their journeys as scheduled.
The AON disclosed its position in a communiqué issued after its general meeting in Abuja and released to journalists on Monday.
The operators accused aviation unions and other groups involved in the action of using what they described as “violent disruptive action” to interfere with airline operations.
According to the association, the protest affected activities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminals 1 and 2 in Lagos as well as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
It alleged that union members prevented passengers and airline personnel from accessing Air Peace’s departure facilities, check-in areas, offices and other sections required for normal operations.
The confrontation stems from disagreements over statutory payments made by airlines to government agencies. While the unions maintain that such payments are necessary for the safety and proper functioning of the aviation industry, the airlines have also faced accusations from workers of restricting employees from joining unions.
AON argued that the August incident should not be viewed simply as a disagreement between employers and organised labour, as its impact extended to passengers, airport personnel and security operations.
The association also alleged that some airline employees were assaulted during the disruption, with some reportedly suffering physical injuries while trying to carry out their duties.
Travellers bore much of the immediate impact, as several services were cancelled or interrupted. The affected airlines subsequently had to rearrange passengers’ journeys, provide hotel accommodation in some cases and process refunds.
AON said the disruption affected more than 70 Air Peace flights and resulted in losses put at over N2bn. It further stated that over 30 United Nigeria Airlines flights were disrupted, with about 13,000 passengers affected.
Beyond lost revenue, the operators said the incident created additional expenses because airlines had to move aircraft, rearrange crew schedules and undertake other measures to restore their normal flight programmes.
The association noted that these expenses came at a difficult period for operators, who are already dealing with expensive aviation fuel and maintenance bills influenced by foreign exchange costs.
Following the incident, the operators said they had agreed to respond collectively should another domestic carrier experience a similar disruption.
“To this end, therefore, the AON would like to state in unequivocal terms that should the events of August 11, 2026, repeat themselves again against any domestic airline, the entire AON member airlines will immediately shut down operations,” the communiqué stated.
The AON also raised concerns over airport security, questioning how protesters were able to gain access and prevent airline personnel from reaching operational areas.
The association referred to provisions contained in Annex 17 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which addresses unlawful interference with civil aviation. It said the events of August 11 had “serious immediate and future local and global implications for the aviation sector in Nigeria.”
On the wider problem of delayed and cancelled flights, the operators rejected suggestions that airlines deliberately create disruptions.
They explained that carriers themselves lose money and suffer reputational damage whenever passengers experience lengthy delays or flights have to be cancelled.
The association identified several issues that can interfere with flight schedules. These include poor weather, insufficient aircraft parking space at Lagos and Abuja airports, restricted operating periods at some secondary airports, movements involving VIPs, bird strikes, foreign object damage, shortages of aviation fuel, inefficient air traffic management and shortcomings in airport facilities.
AON further stated that Jet A1 is selling for more than N2,500 per litre, while some secondary airports continue to experience inconsistent fuel availability.
On the reconstruction of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the association welcomed the project but called for airlines to be consulted from the planning stage.
It said early participation by carriers would enable operators to identify possible design or operational problems that could affect aircraft movements and passenger traffic once the facilities become operational.
Aviation expert Samuel Caulcrick also criticised what he described as the disruptive effect of union activities within the aviation industry.
Caulcrick referred to the dispute involving Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, saying the company had previously obtained an order from the Federal High Court preventing unions from interfering with operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two.
He alleged that despite the court order, union members went ahead to block entrances and disrupt activities at the terminal.
The expert acknowledged that employees have legitimate rights to organise and associate freely but argued that industrial disputes should not result in the shutdown of business operations.
He said, “Unionism is the bone stuck in democracy’s throat, too dangerous to swallow, too difficult to spit out. Take Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited. It secured a Federal High Court order restraining unions from disrupting Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, warning that any invasion would amount to trespass.
“The unions defied it anyway. They blocked entrances, shut down operations, and crippled the terminal, court order and all. China understood this dilemma and banned independent unionism outright; the state claims to represent workers. In a democracy, however, unions can disrupt businesses with reckless abandon and hide behind freedom of association.
“I once joked to their leaders, and they are my friends, that if I had a gun, I would shoot them all. Not because I oppose workers’ rights, but because I cannot support disruption as a business model.”
