MMIA2 protest update: Domestic carriers, passengers lament

Domestic carriers and airline passengers are counting their losses over the inability to carry out flights from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal (MMA2) Ikeja in Lagos.

The aviation workers, under the aegis of air transport services senior staff association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), are protesting the sack of some of their members by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL).

On Monday, ATSSSAN had issued a seven-day ultimatum to BASL — the operator of MMA2 — to reverse the sacking of over 30 workers or face picketing.

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The association also threatened a showdown and demanded payment of its members, their terminal entitlements and reversal of the leave of absence given to them, adding that failure to do so will resort to using “any known means to fight for members’ rights.

Since the early hours of Tuesday, only three airlines- Ibom Airlines, United Airlines and Valujet Airlines- were able to operate single flights out of the terminal.

Stranded passengers, who could not gain entrance to the MMA2, are rushing to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to purchase tickets and process their flights.

Worried over the development, one of the affected carriers – Ibom Air called on the feuding parties to seek an amicable resolution to the crisis.