The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has threatened to halt flight operations nationwide if labour unions repeat the violent disruption of Aug 11, 2026 when aviation unions blocked departure terminals and check-in counters at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminals 1 & 2, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, paralyzing Air Peace which lost over N2bn on 70 flights and United Nigeria Airlines with over 30 flights and 13,000 passengers affected, with staff assaulted.
In a communiqué after its General Meeting on Sept 23, 2026 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, AON condemned the blockade as “unlawful interference” under ICAO Annex 17 and warned: “should the events of August 11, 2026, repeat themselves again against any domestic airline, the entire AON member airlines will immediately shut down operations,” maintaining “absolute zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of unlawful interference to the safety of airline operations.”
AON also commended the Federal Government and FAAN for the ongoing reconstruction of MMIA, Lagos, but requested airlines be carried along early, stating: “we respectfully request that airlines, who are the key stakeholders, be carried along at the early stage to contribute their ideas towards the functionality and flow of the airport facility so as to address any design flaws that may affect functionality in future.”
The association said most delays/cancellations are due to factors beyond carriers including eight challenges: adverse weather & harmattan, apron congestion, sunset operating restrictions, VIP airspace closures, bird strikes and foreign object damage, high aviation fuel costs, air traffic flow bottlenecks, and sub-optimal terminal equipment.
AON passed a vote of confidence in its executive leadership and reaffirmed commitment to its constitution and ethical code to protect passengers, employees, and fleet assets while driving economic growth.