Air Peace Suffers ₦2 Billion Loss From Union Picketing, Vows Legal Action Over Court Order Breach

Nigeria's aviation industry continues to feel the weight of the recent industrial action, with Air Peace now revealing the full scale of the damage caused by the picketing of its operations. The airline has disclosed losses exceeding ₦2 billion in a single day, describing the disruption as unlawful, violent and financially devastating. For African travel professionals monitoring the situation, the latest developments offer important insights into how the standoff between airlines and aviation unions is unfolding, and what it means for the broader regional travel market.

Speaking during an interaction with newsmen in Lagos, the Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs. Toyin Olajide, delivered a strong rebuke of the picketing action carried out by aviation unions over the alleged non-remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC). She alleged that the unions had gone ahead with their disruptive action despite an existing court judgment restraining them, and that the protest quickly escalated into physical confrontation, leaving one female staff member injured and bleeding.

"They had no business coming to Air Peace. It was completely unacceptable and a violation of the court judgment against them. They had no right to board Air Peace aircraft or disrupt our operations. If you watch the video, you will see that one of our female staff members was bleeding. This is something we cannot tolerate," Mrs. Olajide stated. Her comments underline the growing tension between airline management and organised labour in Nigeria, and highlight how quickly industrial disputes can spill into scenes that endanger staff and passengers alike.

Beyond the immediate operational chaos, the airline's financial pain has been severe. According to Mrs. Olajide, the ₦2 billion loss figure does not even include compensation claims from affected passengers, refunds for cancelled tickets or the broader reputational damage caused by the disruption. "Yesterday alone, we lost over ₦2 billion. That is outside any compensation that will now be paid to passengers. Those liabilities arose because of the unions' actions, and they should be held responsible," she added. For a domestic aviation market already navigating tough operating conditions, such losses represent a serious blow.

The Air Peace COO also moved quickly to dismiss online reports circulating about the airline's alleged indebtedness to aviation agencies. She insisted that discussions on the remittance of Ticket Sales Charges are already being handled through a structured arrangement coordinated by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and that the matter is not unique to Air Peace. Several airlines operating in Nigeria are part of the same ongoing engagement.

"The Director-General of the NCAA has already stated publicly that airlines have been complying. Meetings were held, and there is an agreed framework between the NCAA and the airlines on how outstanding obligations will be addressed. Air Peace is part of that arrangement," she explained. She further pointed out that aviation agencies typically issue invoices only after services have been rendered, making it impossible to state a fixed outstanding amount at any given time. Any specific figures being circulated online, she insisted, are simply not accurate.

A particularly striking element of Air Peace's response is the accusation of selective targeting. Mrs. Olajide questioned why the airline was singled out for such aggressive action when the Ticket Sales Charge issue involves multiple carriers, and when a court judgment and structured repayment process are already in place. "This is not an Air Peace issue alone. Every airline is involved in the discussions with the NCAA. So why was Air Peace selectively targeted when there is already a court judgment and a structured repayment process?" she asked.

The airline emphasised that while workers undeniably have the constitutional right to pursue their welfare, industrial actions must always be conducted within the boundaries of the law, without endangering lives, disrupting critical aviation services or interfering with ongoing regulatory processes. Air Peace has reiterated its commitment to working with the NCAA and other aviation authorities to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue, while also pursuing legal remedies against those responsible for the disruption.

For African travel professionals, this evolving story offers valuable lessons about the fragile balance between labour relations, regulatory oversight and commercial aviation. As Africa's aviation sector continues to grow, sustainable progress will depend on stronger dialogue, transparent compliance frameworks and a shared commitment to keeping the skies open, safe and reliable for the millions of travellers who depend on them every day.