Airline Operators of Nigeria Warn of Shutdown Over Union Disruptions

Domestic airlines in Nigeria, under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), have issued a warning of a potential nationwide shutdown if aviation unions disrupt operations again. This statement follows the picketing of Air Peace flights on August 11, which severely impacted operations at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The AON condemned the unions' actions as "violent disruptive action," which halted operations and led to significant financial losses, with Air Peace alone reporting over ₦2bn in losses and more than 70 flights affected. Additionally, over 30 flights from United Nigeria Airlines were disrupted, impacting approximately 13,000 passengers.

The AON highlighted that the unions' actions not only affected airline operations but also posed serious security concerns, exposing vulnerabilities in airport security. The association stated that any recurrence of such incidents would lead to an immediate shutdown of all member airlines.