Aviation Unions Threaten Airlines With Picketing Over Unpaid Ticket Sales Charges

Nigeria's aviation sector may be on the verge of another industrial dispute as two major aviation unions have threatened to begin picketing airlines accused of withholding billions of naira in statutory Ticket Sales Charges (TSC).

The warning comes after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the affected airlines on August 3, 2026, following an earlier 14-day notice that failed to secure compliance.

In a joint statement signed by the General Secretary of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Frances Akinjole, and the Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Odinaka Igbokwe, the unions accused some airlines of collecting Ticket Sales Charges from passengers on behalf of government aviation agencies but failing to remit the funds as required by law.

According to the unions, the charges are a key source of funding for agencies such as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

They warned that non-remittance of the funds threatens critical aviation functions, including safety oversight, air navigation services, accident investigations, weather forecasting, and manpower development.

The unions said repeated efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue had failed, insisting that the matter goes beyond financial obligations and directly affects aviation safety and workers' welfare.

"The expiration of the seven-day ultimatum, coming after the earlier 14-day notice, has shown that these airlines are deliberately refusing to do what is right," the statement said.

"They collected this money from passengers on behalf of government aviation agencies, yet they have chosen to withhold it despite repeated appeals."

The unions further alleged that the continued withholding of the charges was undermining the effective operation of Nigeria's aviation industry.

"It has become crystal clear that these airlines have decided to siphon funds meant for the smooth running of Nigeria's aviation industry to the detriment of our collective safety and well-being," the statement added.

In response, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) rejected the unions' claims, arguing that the labour groups have no direct transactional relationship with the airlines over the disputed Ticket Sales Charges. The association, however, did not immediately address the allegations regarding the non-remittance of the funds.