Nigeria's privately owned airline Air Peace has filed a $3.5 million lawsuit in the Federal High Court in Lagos against the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their respective authorities for a row that disrupted its operations last month.
The airline reportedly claims $2.1 million in general damages, $948,535 in special damages, and $526,916 in exemplary damages from the unions for disruptions it faced on May 3 at Lagos Murtala Muhammed Airport (LOS). NLC was represented by President Joe Ajaero and Secretary General Emmanuel Ugboaja, while TUC was represented by President Festus Osifoh and General Secretary Nuhu Toro.
Disruption of operations
On May 3, there were reports of flight delays and cancelations following protests by members of the unions mentioned above. The protests were in retaliation to the alleged intimidation of workers during the May 1 celebrations in Imo state.
The protests mainly affected domestic flights. Each day, Air Peace operates over 30 domestic and international flights to various destinations, including Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe (ABV), Accra Kotoka (ACC), Mumbai International (MOB), and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV).
The carrier claims that the mobs belonging to the unions disrupted its operations, damaging property, injuring employees, and ruffling customers and staff. Although the protests were directed at the Imo state governor, Air Peace felt the effects as it canceled flights to the Abuja and Owerri airports.
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Reasons for the lawsuit
The private carrier has asked the court for an injunction to protect itself against acts of intimidation and coercion from the defendants. However, it claims that the unions have ignored the lawyer's letters, threatening more riots and disruption of operations.
Air Peace says that on May 3, it suffered financial losses and reputational damage after the protestors approached some employees. According to the court file, the rioters disrupted work, flipped tables, and unplugged desktops, injuring some staff members and passengers.
The songs sung and the conduct of the protestors made it clear to Air Peace that they were members of the NLC and TUC. Its lawyers also sent letters to the union representatives seeking compensation for the damages caused. According to ch-aviation.com, the airline said;
"Lagos is the operational hub and nerve center of the airline operations and a direct consequence of the defendants' malicious and unlawful invasion of its work areas and forcible prevention of its functions. The cancelation of its flights billed for different destinations,"
"Several Air Peace staff suffered physical molestation and incurred bruises which led to their psychological trauma and hospital visitations for treatments, with some having to be excused for some days' absence from work to recover."
A good year for Air Peace
Although its operations and reputation were spoiled in one day, the airline has been on a good route development trajectory all year. The airline launched flights from Abuja and Lagos to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion in April, making it the first carrier to fly nonstop between Nigeria and Israel.
Additionally, the service to Mumbai started on March 21, making it one of its only destinations outside Africa. The airline also boosted capacity on its domestic network by launching flights to Makurdi and Maiduguri. Today it flies to over 27 destinations in 10 countries.
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Source: ch-aviation.com