Domestic airlines operating under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have threatened to suspend flights nationwide if aviation unions disrupt the operations of any member airline again.
The warning followed the August 11 picketing of Air Peace flights in Lagos and Abuja.
The AON issued the warning in a communiqué released after its General Meeting in Abuja and made available to journalists on Monday, September 28.
The association condemned what it described as “violent disruptive action” by aviation unions and other groups, saying the August 11 protest severely disrupted activities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminals 1 and 2 in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to the AON, union members allegedly blocked access to Air Peace departure terminals, check-in counters, offices and workstations, bringing operations at the affected facilities “to a screeching halt”.
The dispute between the unions and airlines centres partly on the refusal of some airlines to remit statutory funds to government agencies. The unions have argued that the development could undermine safety within the aviation sector.
The unions have also accused airlines of preventing workers from joining trade unions, a position they have described as unacceptable.
The AON, however, said the August 11 incident went beyond a normal industrial dispute because of its impact on passengers, airline employees and airport security.
The association said there were “recorded cases” of violence against airline personnel, alleging that some workers suffered bodily injuries while trying to carry out their duties.
Passengers were also affected as several flights were cancelled or disrupted, leaving travellers stranded. Airlines subsequently had to rebook passengers, provide accommodation and process refunds.
The AON said more than 70 Air Peace flights were affected, resulting in estimated losses of over ₦2bn. It added that more than 30 United Nigeria Airlines flights were disrupted, affecting approximately 13,000 passengers.
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Airlines also incurred additional expenses from crew repositioning, aircraft rescheduling and other measures required to restore normal operations, the association said.
The operators noted that the disruptions came amid existing financial pressures, including high aviation fuel prices and foreign exchange-related aircraft maintenance costs.
Against this backdrop, the AON said its members had agreed that another disruption would lead to an industry-wide shutdown.
“To this end therefore, the AON would like to state in unequivocal terms that should the events of August 11, 2026, repeat themselves again against any domestic airline, the entire AON member airlines will immediately shut down operations,” the communiqué stated.
The association also raised concerns about airport security, arguing that the ease with which access to airline terminals was blocked exposed vulnerabilities in existing security arrangements.
It referenced the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Annex 17 definition of unlawful interference and said the August incident had “serious immediate and future local and global implications for the aviation sector in Nigeria.”
On flight delays and cancellations, the AON said such disruptions were not deliberately caused by airlines, stressing that carriers also suffer financially and reputationally when passengers are delayed or flights are cancelled.
“Bad weather, congested aircraft parking areas at Lagos and Abuja airports, limited operating hours at some secondary airports, VIP movements, bird strikes, foreign object damage, fuel shortages, inefficient air traffic flow and inadequate airport infrastructure,” were listed among the factors responsible for operational disruptions.
The association said Jet A1 currently sells for more than ₦2,500 per litre, while fuel availability remains unreliable at some secondary airports.
The AON also welcomed the ongoing reconstruction of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos but urged the authorities to engage airlines at an early stage of the design process.
According to the operators, involving airlines in the planning would allow them to identify potential shortcomings that could affect the smooth movement of passengers and aircraft.