Air Peace has resumed flight operations after aviation unions picketed its facilities in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu, disrupting services and leaving passengers affected at some of the country’s busiest airports.

Air Peace spokesperson Efe Whiskey confirmed on Tuesday that the airline had restarted operations despite the industrial action, saying flights would continue during the day.

Also read: BREAKING: Air Peace flight operations suspended nationwide

“We are operating flights already. Flights will operate today irrespective of the situation,” Whiskey said.

The resumption followed an early morning disruption that affected Air Peace’s operations at major hubs, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Reports also indicated disruption at Enugu.

The industrial action was carried out by aviation unions amid a dispute over the remittance of the statutory 5% Ticket Sales Charge and allegations concerning workers’ rights to unionise.

The unions had earlier issued notices to airlines over alleged outstanding payments and gave affected operators an ultimatum to settle the charges before the planned picketing.

Air Peace, however, disputes the basis for the action.

Whiskey said the airline had already remitted the 5% charge to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and questioned why Air Peace had been singled out when the unions had initially announced plans to picket Nigerian airlines generally.

“We’ve been paying these unions. We’ve been paying them. So, why did you single out Air Peace?” he said.

According to the airline spokesperson, the dispute also centres on Air Peace employees’ decision not to join the unions.

Whiskey alleged that the unions targeted Air Peace because its employees had resisted unionisation and said the airline had no intention of reversing that position.

“We don’t want to join at all,” he said, referring to the position of Air Peace workers.

He also alleged that a peaceful protest by Air Peace employees opposing union membership was disrupted after people linked to the unions allegedly intervened.

The unions’ action, however, has had consequences beyond the dispute between the organisations, with passengers facing disruptions at airports.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has appealed to the unions to suspend the industrial action, warning of the wider effect on passengers and the aviation industry.

The regulator has also assured travellers that flight safety remains uncompromised.

The disruption was not limited to Air Peace.

Other airlines have also experienced operational difficulties, with reports indicating that Enugu Air and United Nigeria Airlines temporarily suspended or adjusted some services as the industrial action spread.

The impact was particularly significant in Lagos and Abuja, where union members restricted access to airline operations and disrupted scheduled domestic services.

The situation has prompted renewed concerns about the effect of industrial disputes on Nigerian air travellers, particularly when action takes place at major aviation hubs.

For Air Peace, the airline says the latest disruption was particularly targeted.

Whiskey said the airline had been warned in advance that its operations could be picketed after Chairman Allen Onyema raised concerns publicly about the possibility.

He questioned why other airlines were able to maintain services while Air Peace operations were disrupted at key locations.

“These people stated that they were going to picket all Nigerian airlines,” Whiskey said.

“However, the likes of Ibom Air, Enugu Air, even Aero, operated flights today.”

The unions, meanwhile, maintain that their action is connected to legitimate labour and financial concerns, including the alleged failure of some airlines to remit the 5% Ticket Sales Charge.

The Ticket Sales Charge dispute has become an increasingly prominent issue within Nigeria’s aviation sector, with the unions arguing that airlines must comply with their statutory obligations.

The latest action also highlights the continuing tension between aviation employers and organised labour over union recognition and workers’ rights.

For passengers, however, the immediate concern remains whether scheduled flights will operate normally.

Air Peace’s announcement that it has resumed services provides some relief, although the airline’s operations could still face delays or adjustments as the wider industrial action continues.

The NCAA’s intervention suggests that authorities are seeking a resolution before the dispute causes further disruption across the aviation network.

The dispute also comes at a financially sensitive time for Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The disruption on Tuesday was estimated by The Guardian to have caused losses running into billions of naira across the sector, illustrating the economic cost of airport shutdowns and cancelled or delayed flights.

Air Peace’s position remains that it has fulfilled its payment obligations and should be allowed to operate without interference.

The unions, on the other hand, are pressing their demands and have demonstrated their willingness to use picketing to force compliance.

For now, Air Peace has resumed operations, but the underlying dispute remains unresolved.

Also read: Enugu Air reschedules flights amid Abuja Airport crisis

The coming hours will determine whether the airline can maintain a normal schedule or whether further industrial action will create another round of disruption for passengers across Nigeria.