Nigerian airlines suspend flights as unions barricade Lagos, Abuja airports
By Aboki Forex —
United Nigeria Airlines and Air Peace have halted domestic flight operations after aviation unions blocked terminal entrances at Lagos and Abuja airports on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The industrial action, which began as early as 5am in Lagos, left passengers stranded across the airlines' networks.
Unions ground operations
The disruption followed a three-day strike notice issued to domestic airlines, with unions warning on August 4 that industrial action was imminent. Members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) barricaded Air Peace terminals in both cities, preventing scheduled departures.
The unions are acting under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Airlines react
United Nigeria Airlines confirmed the suspension in a management statement, citing passenger and crew safety. The statement reads: "We regret to inform our valued passengers that we have temporarily suspended our flight operations due to the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by labour unions against domestic airlines. This decision was taken to protect the safety of our passengers and crew, which remains our priority at all times. Rather than compromise on safety, we have chosen to pause operations until normalcy is restored."
Air Peace also apologised to affected passengers and said it was contacting those booked on later flights as the situation developed.
Why unions walked out
Two grievances triggered the strike. The unions alleged that some airlines were discouraging workers from joining trade unions, with employees reportedly reluctant to declare membership for fear of discrimination. They demanded written directives protecting workers' freedom to organise.
The unions also accused domestic carriers of failing to remit the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge collected from passengers. They argued the funds are meant to support aviation agency operations and underpin collective bargaining agreements.
Regulator urges dialogue
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) asked the unions to stand down and engage in dialogue, pending the return of Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The regulator said a meeting arranged by the minister had collapsed after airline operators failed to attend.
The NCAA assured the public that flight safety had not been compromised and that it was continuing statutory oversight. It expressed confidence that the standoff would be resolved and normal operations restored shortly.
Passengers at the affected airports remained at terminals, waiting for updates on when flights would resume. For Nigerian travellers, the immediate impact is cancelled flights and uncertainty at Lagos and Abuja airports. The standoff also puts pressure on airlines and the regulator to resolve the dispute quickly.