The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has urged aviation unions to abandon their planned warning strike over the alleged non-remittance of Ticket Service Charges (TSC) to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), warning that any disruption to flight operations would inflict unnecessary hardship on passengers and further strain an industry already battling severe financial pressures.
The umbrella body for Nigeria’s scheduled domestic airlines said it was compelled to address the issue after receiving numerous enquiries from worried passengers seeking assurances that their travel arrangements would not be affected by the threatened industrial action.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday, AON distanced itself from the controversy surrounding the alleged outstanding Ticket Service Charges, insisting that it had no transactional relationship with the aviation unions on the matter.
The association argued that the unions were not parties to the engagement between airline operators and the NCAA, nor did they have the authority to speak on behalf of the aviation regulator concerning issues relating to Ticket Service Charges.
According to AON, those threatening to ground flight operations had acted on incorrect information and should first obtain the facts from the relevant authorities before embarking on actions capable of disrupting the nation’s air transport system.
It maintained that while industrial disputes should be resolved through dialogue, shutting down flight operations over what it described as a misunderstood issue would punish innocent passengers and damage public confidence in the aviation industry.
The association said indigenous airlines were already contending with one of the most difficult operating environments in recent years, citing soaring aviation fuel prices, multiple taxes and regulatory charges as major factors eroding profitability.
It noted that the cumulative burden of these costs had pushed many domestic airlines close to their operational limits, making stability and uninterrupted services critical to the survival of the sector.
AON further pointed to findings by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which it said had consistently identified Nigeria as one of the countries with the highest aviation charges globally.
The association argued that such a cost environment was already undermining the competitiveness of Nigerian airlines and that additional disruptions would only worsen the industry’s challenges.
It stressed that disagreements between airlines and the regulator were handled through established communication channels and revealed that it remained in direct engagement with the NCAA on issues affecting the relationship between both parties.
According to the association, such engagement is in line with global aviation practice, where airlines and regulators resolve differences through institutional mechanisms rather than public confrontation.
AON warned that anyone who attempts to disrupt airline operations or jeopardise the safety of the flying public over the issue would be held accountable for the consequences of such actions.
It consequently appealed to the appropriate government and security authorities to monitor the situation closely and ensure that scheduled flight operations were protected from unlawful interference.
Reaffirming its commitment to the aviation sector, the association said its member airlines remained patriotic investors committed to supporting Nigeria’s economic development under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It assured passengers that safety, operational efficiency and service reliability would remain the airlines’ highest priorities despite the economic headwinds confronting the industry.
AON also pledged that it would continue to work constructively with the NCAA and other aviation stakeholders to address industry challenges through dialogue, while resisting what it described as misinformation and attempts to create unnecessary crises in the sector.
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