Passengers stuck at Abuja airport as airlines cancel flights due to union strike

Passengers were stuck at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon. Aviation unions were still on strike, affecting flight operations. Some airlines had to cancel or change their flights.

The situation also impacted Lagos airport. Air Peace reported that union members blocked access to its departure terminals.

Air Peace, Enugu Air, and United Nigeria Airlines announced problems with their flights. They either canceled or changed schedules because access to airport terminals was restricted.

The strike is due to issues about workers' rights to join unions and claims about unpaid five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) collected from passengers.

Air Peace stated that access to its departure terminals at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, including Alpha and Zulu terminals, and Terminal 2 in Lagos was blocked. The same situation occurred at the Abuja terminal.

The airline said the blockade made it hard for flights to leave Lagos and Abuja. Air Peace apologized to passengers who were affected. They said they were contacting travelers who were scheduled to fly later in the day with updates as the situation changed.

Enugu Air also said it had to temporarily stop operations at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Union workers reportedly denied their staff access to the terminal.

The airline warned that some flights might be changed while they adjusted their services. "Please be informed that due to an ongoing industrial action at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where union workers are denying staff access into the airport terminal, operations at the airport have been temporarily suspended," the airline said in a notice.

The airline added, "Consequently, some Enugu Air flights may experience rescheduling until further notice, as we work to adjust our network." They also apologized to passengers and told them to check their emails, SMS, and social media for updates before going to the airport.

Passengers needing help with rebooking or questions were advised to reach out to the customer service team.

United Nigeria Airlines also announced a temporary stop to its flights due to the strike. They said they made the decision to protect the safety of passengers and crew. They promised to keep affected passengers updated on new flight schedules.

The airline also apologized for the trouble and told passengers to contact their customer care for assistance. The airlines plan to resume normal operations once things are back to normal at the affected airports.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Chris Najomo, the NCAA Director-General, asked the aviation unions to end their strike until the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, returned. The regulator said he was trying to fix the issues.

They asked everyone involved to talk and work together. They believe the matter will be sorted out, and regular flight operations will return. They also assured passengers that flight safety was still in place and that the NCAA was fulfilling its safety oversight duties.

The disruption has left passengers unsure about their travel plans. Those at Abuja airport are still waiting as airlines adjust their schedules because of the strike.

The latest news has shown how the dispute affects passengers directly. Airlines cannot operate some scheduled flights because of blocked access to airport terminals. Passengers using the affected airports are advised to keep checking for updates from their airlines before going to the airport.