The Association of Nigeria Airline Operators (AON) has been advised to engage air transport unions constructively to ensure stability in the sector and avert the attendant losses to the industry players and the larger economy.
Mr Martins Nwafor, the Managing Director of Chinua Achebe Airport in Umueri, Anambra made the call while speaking on the recent face-off that affected services by the airline operators.
Nwafor, a renowned aviation expert told journalists in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area on Tuesday that the disruption was heavy, not just on the airlines and airports, but on the entire economy.
Recall that aviation unions including the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers shut down operations in protest on Aug. 11.
The protest was against alleged non-remittance of the five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and as well as anti-union practices by domestic airline operators.
Nwafor described TSC as crucial to the revenue of the agencies of government including NCAA, Nigeria Aerospace Management Agency, Accident Investigation, Nigerian Meteorology Agency and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.
He said though airline operators had direct dealings only with agencies of government, delayed remittances to them had adverse effects on their relationship with the employees who were members of the unions.
The expert said he did not know one airline which was the biggest in the industry was picketed adding that the about 80 flights it cancelled caused serious disruptions in the sector.
“Airline operators cannot say that they do not have business with the unions but these agencies of government they interact with are populated by staff members who are members of the unions, and we now see that they can disrupt their operations.
“The TSC in question generates revenue from the agencies, which get income from the passengers, through the airline operators. If they do not remit on time, the ability of these agencies to take care of their staff members will be affected and the unions are naturally supposed to look for their money.
“For us here, we also felt the negative impact; because we did not receive any flight since Lagos is the hub where most flights originate.
“The revenue loss was huge on operators, Air Transport handlers, airports, the passengers and businesses.
“This should not be allowed to happen again, the real profit or loss in the aviation industry is on the larger economy and not us, we are in the business facilitating businesses through movement of people,” he said.
Nwafor, an Aviation Consultant advised airline operators not to stifle the labour environment in the air transport sector but recognise and talk with them because they are critical to the operations in aviation.
He said operators should allow members of their staff to unionise as it was compulsory for all junior staff members because they all belonged to the Nigeria Labour Congress, while senior staff members belonged to the Trade Union Congress.
He said operators had nothing to be afraid of if they had a well-defined condition of service and good human resources management system.
“I was the branch chairman of NCAA and FAAN for eight years, later as a national vice president and temporarily as acting president before pulling out for other responsibilities, so I know how it works.
“Airline operators should allow junior staff members of their organisations to join the unions, not management of a company reading a court order against unionising on behalf of employees, it is not possible that staff members can go to court and obtain an injunction against themselves,” he said.