The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has appealed to aviation unions to suspend their ongoing industrial action and embrace dialogue as the dispute disrupts flight operations across parts of the country.
The industrial action is linked to the unions’ demands over workers’ unionisation and the remittance of statutory charges to the aviation regulator.
Reacting to the disruption, the NCAA urged the unions to “sheathe their swords” and exercise restraint pending the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who the authority said had been working to resolve the issues.
In a statement signed by the Director General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, the NCAA said the issues could have been addressed at a meeting convened by the minister last week.
However, according to the authority, the meeting could not hold because airline operators failed to honour the invitation.
The NCAA also assured air travellers that flight safety had not been compromised, stressing that it continued to carry out its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
“We appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation. We are confident that the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable,” the statement said.
United Nigeria Airlines announced a temporary suspension of its flight operations, citing the industrial action by labour unions against domestic airlines.
The airline said the decision was taken to protect the safety of its passengers and crew.
“Rather than compromise on safety, we have chosen to pause operations until normalcy is restored,” the airline said.
United Nigeria Airlines apologised to affected passengers and said it was monitoring the situation closely.
The airline added that passengers affected by the disruption would be informed of revised flight schedules and advised them to contact its customer care team for further assistance.
Air Peace also announced disruptions to its flight operations following the picketing of its airline and the ongoing industrial action.
The airline said union members had barricaded entrances to its departure terminals at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, including the Alpha and Zulu Terminals, as well as Terminal 2 in Lagos.
According to Air Peace, access to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal in Abuja was also restricted.
The airline said the blockades prevented scheduled flights from departing Lagos and Abuja, leaving passengers travelling across its network significantly affected.
“Air Peace sincerely apologises to all affected and stranded passengers for the disruption and inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control,” the airline said.
The carrier said passengers scheduled to travel later in the day were being contacted and provided with updates as the situation developed.
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Air Peace said it would continue monitoring the situation and issue further updates when necessary.
The NCAA, meanwhile, urged all parties involved in the dispute to prioritise dialogue and cooperation, expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved and normal flight operations restored.
The disruption has left several passengers stranded at airports, with airlines urging travellers to monitor updates and confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.