Flight operations of Air Peace were grounded nationwide on Tuesday after members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) shut the airline’s terminals in protest.
The development disrupted flight operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, leaving passengers stranded and delaying scheduled journeys.
An Air Peace flight scheduled to depart Lagos at 6:30 a.m. was unable to take off following the action by the protesting workers.
The disruption was also reported at other airports across the country, where Air Peace operates, as the union members reportedly placed the airline’s terminals under lock and key.
The action resulted in uncertainty for passengers who had arrived at the airports for their scheduled flights, with many forced to wait for information on when normal operations would resume.
One of the affected passengers, an X user identified as YoufoundAlex, said he was stranded at the Lagos airport because of the protest.
He said he had a 9:00 a.m. appointment in Abuja but could not travel as a result of the disruption.
“I have a 9:00 a.m. appointment in Abuja today, but unfortunately, I am currently stranded at the Lagos airport due to an ongoing protest by Air Peace workers, which has resulted in the shutdown of the airport and disruption of flights,” he wrote on X.
The protest came as union members working with the airline took action that effectively halted its operations at airports nationwide.
The number of flights affected by the action was not immediately known. It was also unclear how many passengers had been left stranded across the country as a result of the disruption.
However, the incident caused significant inconvenience for travellers, particularly those with time-sensitive engagements in cities such as Abuja and Lagos.
Air Peace is one of Nigeria’s major airlines, operating domestic and regional routes and connecting several major cities. Its services are used by thousands of passengers for business, official engagements, family trips and other purposes.
A disruption of its operations can therefore affect travellers and businesses that depend on air transport for movement across the country.
The latest development also highlights the possible impact of industrial disputes on the aviation sector. Unlike other forms of transport, air travel is highly dependent on scheduled departures and arrivals, meaning that delays can have a chain effect on passengers and their plans.
Passengers who miss flights may also have to deal with rescheduling and other difficulties, especially when the cause of the disruption is outside their control.
The NLC is Nigeria’s umbrella body for organised labour and has been involved in several industrial actions over workers’ welfare, wages, working conditions and other labour-related issues.
Trade unions in the aviation sector have also, over the years, raised concerns about workers’ welfare and compliance with agreements reached with employers.
However, the specific issues behind Tuesday’s protest at Air Peace were not immediately clear from the information available at the time of filing this report.
There was also no immediate indication of how long the protest would last or what conditions would have to be met before the airline’s terminals would be reopened.
The disruption came at a time when the Nigerian aviation sector remains an important part of the country’s transport system, particularly for movement between Lagos, Abuja and other major cities.
Air travel provides a faster means of movement over long distances and is widely used by government officials, business people and other travellers who need to meet tight schedules.
Consequently, any prolonged shutdown of an airline’s operations could have wider effects on passengers and businesses.
The situation at the Lagos airport also created anxiety among travellers waiting to know whether their flights would operate.
Some passengers were forced to remain at the airport while awaiting further information from the airline or the relevant authorities.
As of the time of filing this report, the management of Air Peace had yet to issue an official statement on the protest.
The airline had also not announced whether affected passengers would be rescheduled or how it intended to handle the disruption.
It was equally unclear whether negotiations between the airline management and the protesting workers were underway.
Passengers scheduled to fly with Air Peace are expected to rely on official updates from the airline regarding the status of their flights.
Until the dispute is resolved and the terminals are reopened, the industrial action could continue to affect the airline’s services across the country.