Air Peace has accused aviation unions of violating a subsisting Federal High Court order after Tuesday’s picketing at the airline’s operations turned violent, leaving a female employee injured and causing losses estimated at more than N2 billion.

The airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, made the allegation on Wednesday in Lagos during a media briefing with aviation reporters.

Olajide described the August 11, 2026 industrial action as an act of intimidation against Air Peace workers and passengers, as well as a “flagrant disrespect” of a subsisting court judgment restraining the unions from harassing or disrupting the airline’s employees and operations.

According to her, the judgment, obtained on April 26, 2024, followed a suit instituted by Air Peace employees against the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Inspector-General of Police and other unions.

She said the court had ruled that it was unlawful and unconstitutional to compel Air Peace employees to belong to any union against their will.

Olajide added that the court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the unions from harassing Air Peace employees at their workplaces or elsewhere, while directing the police to enforce compliance with the order.

She said Tuesday’s action therefore amounted to a disregard of the court’s judgment and existing aviation regulations, including relevant provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.

The Air Peace executive said the unions had cited two major grievances for their action — the alleged non-payment of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and the lack of unionisation among employees of some airlines.

She, however, argued that the issues were industry-wide and questioned why Air Peace was singled out for what she described as violent and disruptive picketing.

“On the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has publicly stated that the airlines, and not Air Peace alone, are complying with the directives of the NCAA regarding the applicable payment,” Olajide said.

She also maintained that most Nigerian airlines were not unionised, adding that Air Peace employees had independently chosen not to form a union.

Olajide said the decision should be respected as part of the workers’ constitutional rights.

She further alleged that some Air Peace employees were physically assaulted during the protest, including a female worker who was left bleeding and bruised.

“How can workers’ rights be defended by violently attacking workers exercising their own constitutional rights?” she asked.

The airline also raised concerns about airport security, questioning how protesters were able to gain access to a restricted airport environment and disrupt flight operations.

Olajide described airports as sensitive national assets and warned that such incidents could undermine confidence among international partners and aircraft lessors in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

She said Tuesday’s disruption caused more than N2 billion in financial losses and affected thousands of passengers whose flights were delayed, cancelled or otherwise disrupted.

“Our passengers equally have constitutional rights, including the right to travel without unlawful interference,” she said.

Air Peace said it had video evidence that could help identify those allegedly responsible for the violence and disruption.

The airline called on the Federal Government, security agencies, airport authorities and aviation regulators to conduct an independent investigation into the incident and determine how the disruption occurred despite the existing court order.