Aviation Workers’ Unions Threaten Operations Disruption As AON Disagrees With Strike Warning
The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) says the unions “in safeguarding the interests of the airport workers, and in general, the safety of the flying public, have decided to stop the operations of the cancerous airlines in our airports any time from now, without any further notice.”
The workers’ unions had earlier issued notice of a warning strike and said “August 3, 2026 marked the expiration of the 7-Day Ultimatum, being the next after the first 14-Day ultimatum that was issued the airlines that are deliberately withholding the remittance of the money (ticket sales charge) that was statutorily paid by the flying passengers for the smooth running of the Nigerian aviation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).”
On August 3, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) issued a statement that it “has taken note of threats by certain aviation unions to disrupt flight operations over allegations of “unremitted Ticket Service Charges (TSC) owed to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)”. We would not ordinarily dignify this with a response, but the numerous calls from anxious passengers demanding to know the fate of their travel plans leave us no choice. It is therefore on their behalf that we speak.
We want to clearly state that the AON has no transactional relationship whatsoever with these unions on this matter. To the best of our knowledge, they do not speak for, nor on behalf of, the NCAA. Those behind these threats have been misinformed, and we urge them to seek facts from the appropriate quarters before taking any action capable of inflicting needless hardship on the traveling public.
Nigerian airlines are already operating under conditions that threaten their survival. The cost of aviation fuel and the multiple charges they pay have pushed them to a breaking point. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has confirmed what AON has repeatedly said, which is that Nigeria has one of the most expensive aviation charges globally. This is suffocating the industry and is not the time for distractions dressed up as agitation.
We have direct engagement Channels with NCAA on anything pertaining our relationship and issues as the industry regulator as it is the industry standard world over and that engagement continues in good faith. We state without ambiguity that any individual or group that disrupts airline operations or endanger the safety of the flying public based on this particular threat, will be held responsible for the consequences. We therefore call on appropriate authorities to please take note.
AON members as patriotic Nigerians and legitimate Investors in Nigeria’s economy and contributors to the economic development of Nigeria under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR remain fully committed to the safety and seamless travel experience of all Nigerians, and we will not be distracted by threats, misinformation, or manufactured crises.
A statement jointly signed by ATSSSAN General Secretary, Comrade Frances Akinjole and NUATE Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Odinaka Igbokwe, the unions said the notice is because the operators “are adamant to yield to our calls” and it “has become crystal clear that these airlines that collected this money from the passengers on behalf the aviation agencies have decided to siphon the fund to the detriment our collective safety and well-being” and that “it is now established that the pilfering airlines are un-fit to remain in our sky that is been serviced by genuine the patriotic efforts of other sincerely responsible operators in the industry.”
