Happening now: Passengers stranded at Abuja, Lagos airports as aviation unions shut down Air Peace operations

Operations of Air Peace were disrupted in Lagos and Abuja on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, after aviation unions picketed the airline over allegations of anti-union practices and non-remittance of statutory ticket sales charges.

The action was carried out by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), under the coordination of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The development left some passengers stranded at the affected airports as union members blocked access to the airline’s operations.

The unions said the action followed several weeks of attempts to resolve their grievances with the affected airlines.

Unions accuse Air Peace of blocking unionisation

The labour groups accused some domestic airlines of preventing their workers from freely joining trade unions despite repeated efforts by aviation unions to secure workers’ rights to unionise.

They alleged that some employees were afraid to openly express interest in joining unions because of concerns about possible discrimination or victimisation.

According to the unions, workers should be allowed to choose and belong to unions without fear of reprisals.

Air Peace had yet to issue a public statement on the allegations as of the time of the picketing.

Dispute over five per cent ticket sales charge

The unions are also locked in a dispute with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) over the alleged non-remittance of a five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

The aviation unions claimed that airlines had collected the charge but failed to remit the funds meant to support the operations of aviation agencies.

They alleged that the withholding of the funds had affected the implementation of collective bargaining agreements negotiated on behalf of workers in the aviation sector.

The unions said the issue had contributed to growing dissatisfaction among aviation workers.

Unions issue three-day strike notice

The latest picketing followed an earlier warning issued by the unions on August 4, when they announced plans to picket affected airlines and warned that they could commence industrial action without further notice.

They said they had subsequently exercised restraint by giving the affected airlines additional time to address their concerns.

The unions described the latest action as the result of what they considered continued failure by the airlines to resolve the outstanding issues.

They said the three-day strike notice was issued to defaulting domestic airlines over what they described as serious infractions.

Labour demands freedom to unionise

The aviation unions demanded that affected airlines issue clear directives to their employees affirming their freedom to join trade unions of their choice.

They said such declarations should be communicated through official circulars and other direct channels to workers.

The unions insisted that employees should not face intimidation, discrimination or victimisation for exercising their right to belong to a union.

They also demanded the immediate remittance of the allegedly withheld five per cent ticket sales charges to the relevant aviation agencies.

According to the unions, the release of the funds was necessary to enable the agencies to implement negotiated conditions of service for their workers.

Unions warn of wider aviation crisis

The labour groups warned that unresolved disputes over workers’ rights and funding for aviation agencies could have wider consequences for the industry.

They described the growing dissatisfaction among air transport workers as a serious concern, warning that continued neglect of the issues could undermine industrial harmony and aviation safety.

The unions said they remained prepared to escalate their action if the airlines failed to meet their demands.

The dispute has now placed additional pressure on airlines and aviation authorities to resolve the issues and prevent further disruption to air travel across the country.