Local Airlines Already Under Pressure, Strike Threat Will Worsen Industry Challenges -Operators

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has warned that any planned disruption of flight operations by aviation unions over alleged unremitted Ticket Service Charges (TSC) to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would further worsen the challenges confronting Nigeria’s airline industry.

Reacting to the unions’ threat of a warning strike, AON’s spokesman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, described the planned action as unnecessary and based on misinformation, stressing that airlines maintain direct engagement with the NCAA on all regulatory and financial matters.

Okonkwo said the association was compelled to respond following numerous enquiries from passengers worried about the possibility of flight disruptions.

“We would not ordinarily dignify this with a response, but the numerous calls from anxious passengers demanding to know the fate of their travel plans leave us no choice. It is therefore on their behalf that we speak,” he said.

He stated that the airline operators have no transactional relationship with the aviation unions on the issue of Ticket Service Charges, adding that the unions neither represent nor speak for the NCAA.

“We want to clearly state that the AON has no transactional relationship whatsoever with these unions on this matter. To the best of our knowledge, they do not speak for, nor on behalf of, the NCAA. Those behind these threats have been misinformed, and we urge them to seek facts from the appropriate quarters before taking any action capable of inflicting needless hardship on the travelling public,” Okonkwo said.

The AON spokesman noted that Nigerian airlines are already battling severe operational and financial pressures, warning that any industrial action would compound the industry’s difficulties rather than resolve them.

“Nigerian airlines are already operating under conditions that threaten their survival. The cost of aviation fuel and the multiple charges they pay have pushed them to a breaking point. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has confirmed what AON has repeatedly said, which is that Nigeria has one of the most expensive aviation charges globally. This is suffocating the industry and is not the time for distractions dressed up as agitation,” he stated.

Okonkwo further explained that AON enjoys established channels of communication with the NCAA and that discussions on industry issues are ongoing in line with global best practices.

“We have direct engagement channels with the NCAA on anything pertaining to our relationship and issues as the industry regulator, as is the industry standard worldwide, and that engagement continues in good faith,” he said.

He warned that any attempt to disrupt airline operations or compromise passenger safety would attract consequences, urging relevant authorities to prevent any breakdown of flight services.

“We state without ambiguity that any individual or group that disrupts airline operations or endangers the safety of the flying public based on this particular threat will be held responsible for the consequences. We therefore call on the appropriate authorities to take note,” Okonkwo added.

Reaffirming the commitment of domestic airlines to national development, he said AON members remain focused on ensuring safe and seamless air travel despite the difficult operating environment.

“AON members, as patriotic Nigerians and legitimate investors in Nigeria’s economy and contributors to the country’s economic development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remain fully committed to the safety and seamless travel experience of all Nigerians, and we will not be distracted by threats, misinformation or manufactured crises,” he said.