Air Peace Flights Disrupted As Aviation Unions Picket Terminals

Air Peace passengers faced fresh disruption on Tuesday after aviation unions picketed the airline’s terminals in Lagos and Abuja.

The action affected scheduled flights from Murtala Muhammed Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with passengers left waiting as access to some departure points was blocked.

The dispute centres on union concerns over workers’ right to join unions and the five percent Ticket Sales Charge owed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Punch reported that the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers were involved, with backing from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Daily Trust reported that the Zulu terminal gate in Lagos was locked from about 5am and that an Air Peace flight scheduled for 6:30am could not depart. The outlet said some passengers complained that they had no clear information on when operations would resume.

Daily Post reported that the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the disruption as a union matter and said more details would be provided after he reached the airport.

Air Peace apologised to affected passengers in a statement reported by Vanguard. The airline said the blockade restricted access to its departure terminals in Lagos and Abuja and prevented scheduled flights from leaving both cities.

The disruption came after earlier warnings from aviation unions over unpaid ticket sales charges and alleged resistance to union membership among airline workers. For passengers, the immediate effect was uncertainty over flight departures across Air Peace’s network.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard, Daily Trust, Daily Post