Aviation Unions Halt Air Peace Operations Over TSC Issues

In the early hours of Tuesday, a significant crisis emerged in Nigeria's aviation sector as key unions, including 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), shut down Air Peace operations at both the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. This industrial action left hundreds of passengers stranded and is linked to grievances regarding the non-remittance of the statutory five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) by some airlines, alongside concerns about workers' rights to unionize.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), led by Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo, intervened, urging the unions to suspend their action and engage in dialogue. The NCAA noted that a meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, could not occur due to airline operators' failure to attend.

The NCAA reassured the public that flight safety remains uncompromised and expressed hope for a swift resolution.