Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigerian airlines have threatened to shut down domestic operations if another disruption like the August 11 airport crisis occurs, after the incident grounded more than 70 Air Peace flights, cancelled over 30 United Nigeria Airlines services and reportedly caused billions of naira in losses.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) issued the warning in a communiqué on Monday following its general meeting in Abuja, calling for an urgent overhaul of airport security measures.
The association said union members had blocked access to terminals, check-in counters and workstations at Lagos and Abuja airports on August 11, leaving some aviation workers injured and forcing widespread flight disruptions.
According to AON, more than 70 Air Peace flights were grounded, resulting in reported losses exceeding ₦2 billion.
More than 30 United Nigeria Airlines flights were also cancelled, affecting about 13,000 passengers who required rebooking, refunds, accommodation and alternative travel arrangements.
The association linked the incident to breaches of airport security rules and international standards under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 17.
AON warned that the ability to disrupt access to critical airport facilities exposed weaknesses in Nigeria’s aviation security system and could undermine confidence in the domestic aviation market.
It said the disruption went beyond immediate financial losses, with lessors and potential investors reassessing their exposure to the Nigerian aviation sector.
The association said the incident came at a time when domestic airlines were already dealing with rising fuel prices, infrastructure constraints and other operational challenges.
AON issued a strong warning against any repeat of the incident.“Should the events of August 11, 2026, repeat themselves again against any domestic airline, the entire AON member airlines will immediately shut down operations,” the association said.
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Korede Abdullah 
Hope Ajayi 