The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has strongly condemned the disruption of flight operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja on August 1, 2026. The disruptions, caused by union members, targeted Air Peace and resulted in significant losses for the airline and other carriers. AON has called for urgent steps to prevent future unlawful interference in the aviation sector.
According to AON, the union members blocked access to Air Peace's departure terminals, bringing all activities of the airline to a halt. The union members prevented airline workers from accessing their offices and workstations, thereby disrupting check-in and other services to passengers. This action was described as a violation of aviation safety and security regulations, with serious implications for the sector.
AON referenced the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 17, which defines unlawful interference as acts that jeopardize the safety of civil aviation. The organization stated that the unions' actions on August 1 constituted a clear breach of these regulations. The disruptions resulted in direct financial losses for airlines, with Air Peace alone losing an estimated ₦2 billion due to over 70 affected flights.
The disruptions also had a ripple effect on other flights across the country, with over 30 flights of United Nigeria Airlines impacted, affecting around 13,000 passengers. Airlines had to bear the additional costs of rebooking passengers, providing accommodation, and paying refunds, among others. These costs were incurred in an already challenging operating environment, characterized by high fuel costs and foreign-exchange based maintenance costs.
AON noted that the disruptions exposed the vulnerability of Nigeria's airport infrastructure, contrary to globally instituted provisions of Aviation Security. The organization's communique emphasized that the actions of the unions undermined airport security regulations, highlighting the need for urgent measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The disruptions also resulted in passengers being stranded across the nation at different airports. AON explained that although the strike action primarily took place at Lagos and Abuja airports, other flights across the entire domestic, regional, and international networks of airlines in the country were directly affected. This was due to Lagos and Abuja serving as domestic hubs that funnel capacity across the country's entire airports system.
AON has identified several factors responsible for flight delays, including the disruptions caused by the unions. The organization is calling for a comprehensive approach to address these issues and prevent future occurrences. The incident has highlighted the need for stakeholders to work together to ensure the smooth operation of the aviation sector and prevent such disruptions from occurring in the future.
Key points
- AON condemns violent disruptions of flight operations by unions at Lagos and Abuja airports
- Disruptions resulted in significant financial losses for airlines, with Air Peace alone losing an estimated ₦2 billion
- Incident exposes vulnerability of Nigeria's airport infrastructure, contrary to globally instituted provisions of Aviation Security
