Airline Operators of Nigeria threaten nationwide flight shutdown

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has threatened a nationwide shutdown of domestic flight operations if labor unions continue to use industrial actions that disrupt commercial aviation services. The association issued a communiqué following a general meeting in Abuja, citing the severe economic and operational toll caused by recent disruptions, including an incident on August 11.

Operators noted that the aviation sector operates on thin margins due to high foreign exchange costs for maintenance, fuel scarcity, and heavy statutory charges. They argued that arbitrary disruptions to ground handling and air traffic control cause massive delays and revenue losses that individual airlines cannot absorb. The AON emphasized that while workers have rights, such actions must not compromise critical national infrastructure.

Additionally, the AON called on the Federal Government and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to include domestic carriers in the planning and reconstruction of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. While acknowledging the government's investment in terminal infrastructure, the association requested to be consulted during the early architectural stages to provide operational insights on passenger flow and facility layout to prevent future design flaws.