FAAN assures passengers of continued airport operations amid aviation strike
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured passengers that airport operations will continue despite the ongoing industrial action by aviation unions.
The authority, in a statement, disclosed that it was working with aviation agencies, airlines, security agencies and other stakeholders to minimise disruptions and maintain safe and orderly operations at airports across the country.
The assurance followed disruptions to flight operations earlier on Tuesday after aviation unions restricted access to some airport terminals in Lagos and Abuja. Several airlines, including Air Peace, Enugu Air and United Nigeria Airlines, subsequently suspended or rescheduled some flights.
The unions embarked on the industrial action over grievances, including alleged restrictions on workers’ freedom to unionise and the non-remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge collected from passengers.
The unions involved include the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, with the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress also backing the action.
“In the interim, FAAN is working closely with the relevant aviation agencies, airlines, security agencies and other stakeholders to minimise the impact of the industrial action and ensure that airport operations are not disrupted,” the statement read.
The authority said some operational challenges affecting the movement of flights within the airside environment had been addressed through inter-agency coordination, adding that measures were being sustained to ensure the orderly continuation of flight operations.
FAAN urged passengers to remain calm and maintain contact with their airlines for updates on flight schedules and status, assuring them that the safety, security and accessibility of Nigerian airports remained its priority.
