Flight operations of Air Peace were disrupted across Nigeria on Tuesday August 11 after members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reportedly shut down the airline’s terminals in protest, leaving passengers stranded and raising concerns over the impact on domestic air travel and business activities.
The industrial action reportedly affected operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, where an Air Peace flight scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m. was unable to take off.
The disruption was also reported at Abuja and other airports nationwide, with passengers facing delays as union members reportedly placed Air Peace terminals under lock and key.
The development could affect businesses and travellers relying on the airline for time-sensitive domestic connections, particularly on major routes linking Lagos, Abuja and other commercial centres.
Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Michael Achimugu confirmed that the disruption was union-related.
“Yes, it is a union thing. When I get to the airport, I will be able to get more factual details of the situation,” Achimugu said when contacted for comment.
The disruption left passengers stranded at the Lagos airport, with some reporting difficulties in reaching their destinations.
One passenger, who identified himself on X as YoufoundAlex, said he was unable to travel to Abuja for a scheduled 9:00 a.m. appointment because of the protest.
“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.
Air Peace is one of Nigeria’s major domestic carriers, operating scheduled passenger services on several routes across the country. Any prolonged disruption to its operations could have wider implications for passenger movement, business travel and connectivity between Nigeria’s major economic centres.
However, the immediate cause of the labour dispute was not clear as of the time of filing this report. The management of Air Peace had also yet to issue an official statement on the development or indicate when normal flight operations would resume.
It was equally unclear whether the industrial action had affected the operations of other airlines at the affected airports.
The NCAA said further details would be provided after officials obtained more information on the situation at the airports.
