Domestic Airlines Lose N1.5 Billion to Labour Disruptions

• Domestic Airlines Lose N1.5 Billion to Labour Disruptions

Domestic airlines claimed they have lost around N1.5 billion so far this year due to the picketing of their operations.

The operators, who were reacting to the forced closure of the domestic terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Wednesday, accused labour of not exhausting discussions before they picket airport facilities.

According to them, it should be the responsibility of labour to ensure that organisations that employ its members earn money in order to pay workers.

Kingsley Ezenwa, Head of Communications of Dana Air, said labour disrupted the operations of the airline in April from morning to night over allegation of casualisation of workers.

Ezenwa said Dana Air lost money due to that disruption “but the unions could not find anything because we do not casualise workers. They disrupted our operations for nothing.”

On Wednesday, labour closed MMA 2 over the sacking of 27 workers by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL).

BASL, which built and is operating the terminal, claimed the company lost over N600 million to the disruption.

“Look at it this way, Dana Air operates nine flights from MMA2, Max Air, four flights, Azman Air, four flights, Medview, two, Aero Contractors, five flights and Arik Air, two flights. All these flights were disrupted on Wednesday and that is a total of 26 flights. Just imagine the disappointment to the passengers and if you monetise what passengers have lost it will be in multimillion because the business activities of most of them were disrupted,” Ezenwa said.

Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), Industry stakeholder and CEO of Centurion Securities, advised labour to face BASL instead of disrupting operations of other airlines.

“Go to the corporate office of Bi-Courtney on the first floor of MMA2 to disrupt their work not the passengers, airlines and businesses in the terminal. I once talked to and advised the union officials that I am not against whatever they plan to do with the management of Bi-Courtney, but let the rights of other persons not directly related to the issues be infringed upon,” Ojikutu said.