STAKEHOLDERS in Nigeria’s aviation sector have expressed concern that recurring labour disputes may undermine passenger confidence, disrupt service, and expose regulatory weaknesses.
Recent industrial action against Air Peace disrupted 70 flights, affecting operations across major airports.
Experts highlight inadequate regulatory control over airlines as a cause for apprehension among aircraft lessors and creditors.
University of Lagos lecturer Dr. Femi Aiyegbajeje noted that labor disputes pose risks to aviation safety and can have broader economic implications, suggesting the need for a more robust dispute resolution mechanism.
“Labour disputes should never compromise aviation safety…Passenger confidence is likely to suffer. When passengers see an airport effectively shut down because of an industrial dispute, it can weaken confidence in the reliability of domestic air transport and encourage some travellers to return to road transportation where feasible,” he said.
President of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju (rtd.), emphasized the importance of addressing grievances through appropriate channels to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s air transport system and restore investor confidence.
“Regulatory debt recovery must remain strictly between the regulatory authority and the respective carriers via established legal and administrative mechanisms, insulating the wider traveling public and innocent operators from collateral disruption”, Onitiju emphasised.