Priye Briggs
The Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has rejected threats of a “warning strike” by aviation unions, insisting that allegations of unremitted Ticket Service Charges to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority are unfounded.
In a statement released on Monday, the body representing domestic carriers accused the unions of misrepresenting facts and warned that any attempt to disrupt flight operations would only punish passengers and damage the industry.
AON said it does not have any financial dealings with the unions regarding NCAA charges, and that the unions have no mandate to speak for the regulator.
The operators argued that rather than staging protests, the unions should confirm details with the proper authorities before embarking on actions that could ground flights and inconvenience travelers.
According to AON, Nigerian airlines are already under severe financial pressure. The group cited soaring jet fuel costs and what it described as an excessive burden of aviation fees and levies. It referenced findings by the International Air Transport Association, IATA, which rank Nigeria among countries with the highest aviation charge regimes globally.
The airlines maintained that discussions with the NCAA are ongoing and being handled through the appropriate regulatory channels.
AON also issued a stern warning that any individual or group that interferes with flight schedules or compromises passenger safety would be made to face the consequences.
The statement reads: “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 traveling public.
“AON members as patriotic Nigerians and legitimate investors in Nigeria’s economy and contributors to the economic development of Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu and we remain fully committed to the safety and seamless travel experience of all Nigerians. We will therefore not be distracted by threats, misinformation, or manufactured crises.”
The operators reiterated their commitment to safe, reliable air travel and to supporting the aviation sector’s growth under the current administration. They described themselves as key investors and contributors to Nigeria’s economic development.
With the busy travel season approaching, AON urged all stakeholders to prioritise dialogue over confrontation to avoid grounding operations and creating hardship for the traveling public.