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Domestic airlines on Tuesday resumed flight operations after aviation unions temporarily suspended their industrial action over the controversy surrounding the remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).
The strike had earlier disrupted access to airport terminals, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, forcing several airlines to cancel scheduled flights.
Confirming the resumption of operations, Air Peace spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, said the airline had begun flying again but was working to clear the backlog of passengers stranded by the disruption.
He disclosed that the carrier, which operates about 70 domestic and international flights daily, had cancelled 29 flights as of Tuesday afternoon, warning that the number could increase depending on operational realities.
"We are trying to see how many flights we can operate with the number of passengers who have been waiting at the airport. We usually operate at least 70 flights daily, but we have already cancelled 29 and counting. We don't yet know how many more flights may be affected today," he said.
Osifo-Whiskey also confirmed that the unions announced the temporary suspension of the picketing at the airport, adding that they indicated the action against Air Peace was only the first phase.
"Based on the announcement they made at the airport, they said they would continue tomorrow. They said they were done with the first phase involving Air Peace and would later communicate the next airline they intend to picket," he added.
United Nigeria Airlines also announced the resumption of its services, noting that while its morning flights were disrupted by the industrial action, efforts were underway to accommodate all affected passengers.
In a statement, the airline urged passengers seeking flight updates or assistance to contact its customer service channels.
The industrial action was triggered by a disagreement between aviation unions and airline operators over the remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, a levy used to fund aviation regulatory agencies.
The protest disrupted airport operations in Lagos and Abuja, prompting some domestic airlines to suspend flight services for several hours.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, appealed to the unions to embrace dialogue and suspend the action, saying the dispute could have been resolved at a meeting convened last week by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
According to Najomo, the meeting failed to hold because airline operators did not honour the invitation.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had also cautioned the unions against disrupting flight operations, arguing that domestic airlines were already grappling with rising aviation fuel costs, multiple taxes and other operational challenges threatening the industry's survival.
With the temporary suspension of the industrial action, flight operations have resumed across affected airports as stakeholders continue discussions aimed at reaching a lasting resolution to the dispute.
