Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines Hit Hard by Union Action

Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines faced major issues after aviation unions took action on Tuesday. Many flights were cancelled or delayed, leaving thousands of passengers in a tough spot.

Air Peace reported that the financial hit from this action is over ₦2 billion. More than 30 flights from United Nigeria Airlines were affected as the airline had to suspend some of its operations during the disruption.

The industrial action lasted several hours. It was sparked by a disagreement between the aviation unions and local airlines about the five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC). There were also concerns over workers’ rights to join trade unions.

At a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Oluwatoyin Olajide, Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, said that more than 70 flights were disrupted. This caused serious financial losses and made things difficult for passengers and staff.

Initially, the airline estimated the loss to be over ₦1 billion shortly after the disruption. The unions accused airlines of not remitting the TSC they collected from passengers to the right aviation agencies. They also expressed worries about workers’ rights to join unions.

Air Peace responded by saying they have been following the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) rules on remitting the charge. Mrs Olajide questioned why Air Peace was targeted for picketing when the issue involved the whole airline industry.

She denied claims that the airline stopped its employees from joining unions, saying workers chose not to unionize. She noted that the disruption was more than just picketing, mentioning that some Air Peace staff were allegedly attacked during the action.

She said a female employee was among those who were allegedly assaulted. The airline raised alarms about the wider impact of the disruption, especially airport blockades affecting passenger travel and airline confidence in Nigeria’s aviation.

Air Peace claimed they have proof that could help authorities investigate the situation. They called for an independent investigation into the picketing. The airline also mentioned a 2024 Federal High Court ruling, which said unions cannot force employees into union membership or disrupt operations.

Mrs Olajide made it clear that Air Peace does not oppose unionization but believes employees should have the right to decide if they want to join a union.

United Nigeria Airlines

United Nigeria Airlines also faced disruptions due to the industrial action. The airline said its morning flights were affected and that they were working to help passengers whose travel plans were interrupted.

More than 30 flights were impacted. A senior official from United Nigeria, who wished to remain anonymous, said several aircraft meant to operate different routes were affected.

The affected aircraft included Boeing jets, CRJ planes, Embraer 190s, and Embraer 145s. Two Boeing aircraft, each with room for 175 passengers, were supposed to operate four routes each. Two CRJ aircraft, each carrying about 90 passengers, were also set for four routes.

Two Embraer 190s, each configured for about 110 passengers, and two Embraer 145s, with a capacity of about 50 passengers, were also impacted. Based on the planned routes and aircraft capacity, the official estimated that United Nigeria could have moved about 1,200 passengers if the disruption had not happened.

The suspension of some operations by United Nigeria showed that the industrial action affected more than just Air Peace. Passengers on other airlines also faced disruptions. Those on connecting flights were impacted too, as cancellations and delays in Lagos and Abuja affected their onward journeys.

Passengers whose flights were cancelled or delayed had to sort out new accommodations, business meetings, and appointments. Airlines also had to rearrange aircraft and crew schedules as services began to resume.

ATSSSAN Responds

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) dismissed the allegations made by Air Peace. They said they would respond to the airline’s claims at a later time.

Francis Akinjole, Secretary-General of ATSSSAN, said the union had seen Air Peace's comments but would give a detailed response to what he called misinformation. He also denied the claim that the union was targeting Air Peace.

“All those allegations are baseless, and that is their problem, honestly,” Mr Akinjole said. He questioned why the union should have grounded all airlines at once if their concerns affected the whole industry.

“First, they said we singled them out. Are they the ones to tell us how to carry out our struggle?” he said. Mr Akinjole stated that the union would address the issues raised by Air Peace in detail when they are ready.

The financial and operational effects of the disruption come as Nigeria’s aviation sector faces high costs, expensive fuel, and many charges. The disagreement over the TSC and workers’ rights adds pressure to an industry already facing many challenges.

Even though the unions have temporarily stopped the industrial action and airlines resumed operations, the disruption left many flights cancelled and schedules needing changes. The core issues between the unions and airline operators are still not settled, with unions warning that more action might happen if their concerns are not addressed.