Air Peace passengers were left stranded in Lagos and Abuja on Tuesday morning after aviation labour unions picketed the airline's outlets over alleged regulatory and workers' rights violations.
The disruption affected passengers scheduled to travel on early-morning Air Peace flights, with some travellers unable to access boarding points or proceed with their journeys.
In Abuja, passengers attempting to board Air Peace flights from about 5am were prevented from doing so as the labour action took effect.
At the Lagos airport, the airline's Zulu terminal gate was locked, leaving passengers scheduled for a 6:30am departure unable to proceed with their flights.
The sudden disruption triggered frustration among affected travellers, some of whom took to social media to complain about being stranded at the airport.
The action was carried out amid a dispute involving aviation unions, Air Peace and concerns over the payment of the statutory Ticket Sales Charge to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
The unions have alleged that Air Peace failed to remit the required five per cent charge collected on airline tickets to the aviation regulator.
The levy is a statutory charge attached to airline ticket sales and is used to support the operations of aviation agencies.
The dispute has been building since July, when aviation workers issued ultimatums to airlines and other organisations over alleged non-remittance of the charge.
The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the National Union of Air Transport Employees were among the unions involved in the pressure campaign.
A 14-day ultimatum issued by the unions reportedly expired on August 3 without the dispute being resolved.
The unions have also raised concerns about the rights of workers to freely belong to trade unions, alleging that some airline operators have restricted unionisation among their employees.
The labour action against Air Peace therefore involves both financial obligations to the aviation regulator and broader disagreements concerning workers' rights.
The development has raised concerns about the potential impact of industrial disputes on Nigeria's already busy domestic aviation sector.
For passengers, however, the immediate concern has been the disruption of scheduled journeys, particularly for travellers with important appointments, business engagements and connecting trips.
The disruption also highlights how disputes between airlines and labour organisations can quickly affect members of the public who have no direct involvement in the underlying disagreements.
Air Peace Chief Executive Officer Allen Onyema had previously cautioned aviation unions against industrial action that could result in prolonged disruption across the industry.
Onyema argued that domestic airlines operate under demanding conditions and maintained that airlines deal directly with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on regulatory matters.
The latest picketing indicates that the disagreement has now moved beyond warnings and ultimatums to direct action at airport facilities.
The situation could place additional pressure on the airline, unions and aviation authorities to find a resolution before the disruption spreads or becomes prolonged.
Passengers affected by the action will also be watching for updates on when normal boarding and flight operations will resume.
The incident comes at a time when the Nigerian aviation industry is seeking greater stability while airlines continue to deal with regulatory costs, operational pressures and industrial relations issues.
A prolonged dispute could have wider consequences for passengers, airlines and other businesses that depend on reliable domestic air travel.
For now, the immediate impact is being felt by Air Peace passengers in Lagos and Abuja, where early-morning travellers were unable to proceed with scheduled journeys.
The latest development underscores the importance of resolving the dispute through negotiations before further industrial action causes broader disruption across Nigeria's aviation network.