The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)—the trade association representing domestic scheduled, cargo, charter, fixed-wing, and rotary-wing carriers—has resolved to suspend flight operations nationwide if labor union pickets any of its member airlines.
The resolution was reached during the association’s general meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
In a statement issued on Monday, the AON expressed firm support for Air Peace and its entire membership, reaffirming a zero-tolerance policy regarding unlawful interference with airline operations and aviation safety.
Recall that Labour union disrupted Air Peace operations on August 11 by blocking access to departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 in Lagos, as well as Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The unions alleged that AON members were preventing employees from unionizing and owed outstanding Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) remittances.
In response, the AON demanded an immediate overhaul of security protocols across all national airports, stating that the unions’ actions exposed critical vulnerabilities in the country’s airport security framework and Aviation Security (AVSEC) contingency plans.
Beyond union-related disputes, the AON stated that it aims to inform the public about the underlying causes of flight delays and cancellations.
The association emphasized that delaying or cancelling flights is contrary to an airline’s operational and financial interests, as such disruptions consistently harm profitability and brand reputation. It noted that the vast majority of schedule disruptions in Nigeria stem from factors beyond the direct control of air carriers.
Backstory…
The dispute between Nigeria’s domestic airlines and aviation labour union intensified on August 11, 2026, when aviation unions picketed Air Peace operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The action was led by NUATE and ATSSSAN, with support from the NLC and TUC.
The unions had two major complaints. First was the alleged non-remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) collected by airlines on behalf of aviation agencies. They also accused some airlines of restricting workers’ ability to join trade unions.
The unions argued that the TSC issue was not merely about money because the charge helps fund aviation agencies and affects workers’ conditions of service.
The August action caused significant disruption. According to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), more than 70 Air Peace flights were affected, while more than 30 United Nigeria Airlines flights were also disrupted, affecting about 13,000 passengers.
The operators subsequently accused the unions of using disruptive tactics that went beyond a conventional labour dispute.
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