AIR PEACE RESUMES FLIGHTS AFTER AVIATION UNIONS PICKET OPERATIONS

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

Air Peace has resumed flight operations after aviation unions disrupted its services at major stations across the country on Tuesday.

The airline’s spokesperson, Efe Whiskey, confirmed the development to PUNCH Online, saying flights had commenced despite the picketing of the carrier’s facilities in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu.

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

According to him, the unions picketed Air Peace operations in Lagos, Enugu and Abuja, which serve as major hubs and night-stop locations for the airline, resulting in significant disruption to its services.

Whiskey alleged that the action was targeted at Air Peace because its employees had resisted joining the unions.

He also disputed the unions’ claim that the airline owed five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, saying the amount had already been remitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

“The unions picketed our operations across board. Lagos, Enugu, Abuja. However, at some other stations, they were not able to go,” he said.

The airline spokesperson further alleged that Air Peace had been singled out despite earlier indications that the unions intended to picket airlines across the country.

He noted that other carriers, including Ibom Air, Enugu Air and Aero, operated flights despite the industrial action.

Whiskey said Air Peace workers had previously staged a peaceful protest against being compelled to join the unions, but alleged that the demonstration was disrupted.

He maintained that the airline remained opposed to compulsory union membership, adding that some legacy carriers, including Arik and Aero, were already affiliated with the unions.

The disruption followed a dispute between aviation unions and airlines over the remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, as well as allegations concerning workers’ rights to unionise.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria had on July 28 issued a seven-day ultimatum to airlines they accused of defaulting in the remittance of the statutory charge, warning that non-compliance could attract picketing.

The unions subsequently commenced picketing operations at major airports on Tuesday, with Air Peace among the airlines affected.

Passengers were reportedly stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following the disruption.

With the resumption of Air Peace flights, the airline said its operations had returned despite the ongoing dispute with the aviation unions.