Passengers were left stranded in Abuja and Lagos on Tuesday as aviation unions shut down operations of Air Peace over allegations that the airline was frustrating workers’ unionisation and withholding ticket sales charges owed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, began picketing the airline in the early hours of Tuesday.

Recall that unions had earlier issued three stages of warning, threatening to picket airlines that have refused to pay the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge.

The unions also alleged that some domestic airlines have made it difficult for employees to freely join trade unions.

According to the unions, workers are afraid to even express interest in union membership for fear of discrimination or victimisation.

They, however, described Tuesday’s action as a measure of restraint, saying they had given the affected airlines several weeks to resolve their grievances.

The dispute also centres on the alleged non-remittance of a 5 per cent ticket sales charge meant to fund aviation agencies.

The unions and the Airline Operators of Nigeria have been at loggerheads over the issue, with labour accusing airlines of withholding funds already collected from passengers.

The unions said the alleged non-remittance had stalled the implementation of collective bargaining agreements negotiated for workers in aviation agencies.

In a statement, the unions said: “In relaxing the notice of picketing, dated 4th August 2026 by our unions, with a statement that we were ready to strike at anytime without further notice, we hereby magnanimously issued a 3-day Notice of Strike upon the defaulting domestic airlines principally for the following infractions.

“Making unfettered unionisation of staff in their organisation impossible after several efforts by the aviation unions. Their workers dare not even express the intention to belong to unions of their choice.

“Non-remittance of the already collected, but withheld 5% ticket sales charge, which is the operational fund of the aviation agencies, thereby rendering our members’ negotiated collective bargaining agreements at the aviation agencies nugatory so far. This continues to breed disgruntled air transport workers; the implication of which is an accident in the waiting.

“We want unequivocal declarations through circulars and other direct means of communication to their staff that they are free to join unions of their choice without fear of victimisation. We want an immediate remittance of the seized operational funds of the aviation agencies to allow for the implementation of the conditions of service of our members in the various aviation agencies.”

The picketing has, however, disrupted flights and left passengers waiting as the unions pressed their demands, turning a long-running labour dispute into a disruption felt directly by passengers.

Efforts to speak with the airline’s spokesperson have been unsuccessful, as text messages sent to him have yet to receive a response as at the time of filing this report.

More details soon…