By Suad Ayinla.
Edited by Bababunmi Agbebi
What began as an industrial dispute over the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) on Tuesday disrupted Air Peace operations and left passengers stranded at major Nigerian airports. Aviation unions reportedly barricaded departure terminals at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, preventing scheduled flights from operating normally.
The 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 the support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). Reports indicated that the unions locked the Zulu Terminal in Lagos at about 5 a.m., affecting an Air Peace flight scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m.
The unions’ protest followed a three-day strike notice issued over allegations that Air Peace had failed to remit outstanding five per cent Ticket Sales Charge payments. The dispute increased pressure on the airline, while passengers were left facing uncertainty, delays and possible cancellations at the affected terminals.
Air Peace apologised to its passengers and attributed the disruption to the blockade of the entrances to its departure terminals, including the Alpha and Zulu terminals at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The airline also said access to the terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja had been restricted, preventing scheduled flights from departing from both cities.
As the dispute continued, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority urged the unions to suspend the industrial action and return to dialogue, warning that the shutdown was affecting passengers and flight operations. With the terminals blocked and negotiations yet to produce an immediate resolution, how soon will Air Peace flights resume fully across the country?
