Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A wave of relief swept through Nigeria's airports on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, as domestic airlines resumed flight operations after aviation unions temporarily suspended a disruptive industrial action that had grounded flights, barricaded terminals, and left thousands of passengers stranded in Lagos and Abuja. The suspension came after several hours of chaos, but union leaders warned that the pause was only temporary, describing the morning's disruptions as “phase one” of a broader campaign against domestic operators.
The industrial action was led by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress. The unions barricaded access to Air Peace terminals at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, effectively shutting down the airline's operations. Air Peace, Nigeria's largest domestic carrier, was the primary target, with union members blocking entrances to departure terminals and preventing passengers and staff from accessing the facilities.
The dispute centred on two major grievances: the alleged non‑remittance of the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) by domestic airlines, and what the unions described as anti‑union practices, including attempts to prevent workers from joining trade unions. The TSC is a levy collected from passengers through airline tickets and remitted to aviation agencies to fund critical services. The unions argued that the failure to remit these funds was depriving aviation agencies of revenue needed for the provision and maintenance of essential services.
Speaking on the operational fallout, Osifo‑Whiskey Efe, spokesperson for Air Peace, confirmed that the carrier had restarted flights but faced a severe bottleneck at terminal gates. He said the airline, which typically operates about 70 domestic and regional flights daily, had already been forced to cancel at least 29 flights by Tuesday afternoon, with further schedule adjustments expected. “We are trying to see how many flights we can operate with the amount of passengers who have been waiting at the airport,” Efe stated. He noted that union leaders announced the pause directly at the airport terminal, but warned of future action against other carriers. “Based on the announcement that they made at the airport, they stated that they will continue tomorrow—that they are done with their first phase, which is Air Peace, and they will come back for the other airlines, which will be communicated in due course,” Efe added.
United Nigeria Airlines also confirmed the resumption of its schedule following the pause. In an official statement, the carrier noted: “Please note that our scheduled morning flights were impacted. We are working to ensure that all affected passengers are accommodated and reunited with their destinations as soon as possible”.
The disruption lasted about seven hours and was estimated to have caused significant financial losses to airlines and other aviation businesses. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority had earlier appealed to the unions to suspend the industrial action and resolve the dispute through dialogue, warning of the impact on passengers and the wider aviation sector. The Director‑General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, said the dispute could have been addressed at a meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, last week, but the meeting could not hold because airline operators failed to honour the invitation.
Checks at the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Tuesday evening showed that Air Peace had resumed flight operations. A ticketing agent at the terminal, Peter Chuka, confirmed that the unions had withdrawn from the airline's premises around 3 p.m., after which flight operations gradually resumed. “Air Peace was picketed in the morning, but the union members left around 3 p.m. It was after they left that Air Peace started operations. I am sure they must have reached an agreement,” Chuka said.
The temporary suspension has eased the immediate disruption to air travel, although the broader dispute between the unions and airline operators remains unresolved. The unions have indicated that the action could continue the following day and that other airlines could be targeted. The Airline Operators of Nigeria had earlier warned aviation unions against disrupting flight operations over the TSC dispute, arguing that domestic carriers were already operating under difficult conditions that threatened their survival. They cited the high cost of aviation fuel and multiple charges imposed on airlines as some of the challenges confronting operators.
For the thousands of passengers who were stranded at airports across the country, the resumption of flights brought some relief, but the threat of further disruptions looms large. As the unions and airlines prepare for further negotiations, the aviation sector remains on edge, with passengers and stakeholders hoping that a lasting resolution can be reached before the next round of industrial action. The skies may be open again, but the turbulence is far from over.
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