Flight operations have been disrupted at major Nigerian airports as aviation unions commenced industrial action over outstanding Ticket Sales Charges and other welfare-related issues.
The action has forced some domestic airlines, including Air Peace, Enugu Air and United Nigeria Airlines, to suspend or reschedule flights at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Air Peace, in a statement issued by its management, said union members barricaded entrances to its departure terminals at Lagos and Abuja, restricting access and preventing scheduled flights from departing.
The airline said passengers travelling across its network had been significantly affected by the disruption, while apologising to affected and stranded travellers.
Air Peace added that it was contacting passengers scheduled to travel later and would continue to monitor the situation before providing further updates.
Similarly, United Nigeria Airlines announced the temporary suspension of its flight operations, citing the ongoing industrial action by aviation unions.
The airline said the decision was taken in the interest of the safety of passengers and crew, stressing that it would resume operations once normalcy returns to the affected airports.
Enugu Air also announced disruptions to its Abuja operations, saying union workers were preventing its staff from accessing the airport terminal.
The airline warned that some of its flights could be rescheduled until further notice as it works to adjust its network.
It advised passengers to check their emails, SMS and official social media platforms for updates before travelling to the airport, while urging affected passengers to contact its customer service team for rebooking and enquiries.
The industrial action is reportedly linked to agitation by aviation unions over the alleged non-remittance of five per cent Ticket Sales Charges, as well as other welfare concerns.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority had earlier appealed to the unions to suspend the action pending the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who is expected to engage stakeholders towards resolving the dispute.
The affected airlines have assured passengers that full operations will resume once normalcy is restored at the airports.
