The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has dismissed the planned warning strike by some aviation unions over the alleged non-remittance of Ticket Service Charges (TSC) to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), insisting that the airlines have no transactional relationship with the unions on the issue.

In a statement issued on Monday, the airline body said it was compelled to respond following widespread concerns from passengers seeking clarification on whether their travel plans would be affected by the strike threat.

According to AON, the unions behind the planned industrial action had been misinformed and should verify the facts with the appropriate authorities before embarking on any action capable of disrupting flight operations and causing hardship for air travellers.

The association stressed that matters relating to the collection and remittance of Ticket Service Charges are handled directly between airline operators and the NCAA, adding that the unions neither represent nor speak for the aviation regulator on the issue.

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AON further noted that Nigerian airlines are already operating under severe financial pressure, citing the soaring cost of aviation fuel and multiple statutory charges as major threats to the survival of domestic carriers.

The association said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had also affirmed its long-standing position that Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest aviation charges globally, warning that additional disruptions would further strain an already fragile industry.

“We have direct engagement channels with the NCAA on all matters relating to our relationship with the regulator, and those engagements continue in good faith in line with global industry practice,” the statement said.

The airline operators warned that any individual or group that disrupts airline operations or compromises the safety of the flying public over what it described as misinformation would be held responsible for the consequences of such actions.

The association also called on relevant government authorities to take note of the threats and ensure that flight operations across the country are not disrupted.

Reaffirming its commitment to the aviation sector, AON said its members remained patriotic investors contributing to Nigeria’s economic development under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and would continue to prioritise the safety of passengers and seamless air travel.

The statement concluded that the airline operators would not be distracted by “threats, misinformation or manufactured crises,” maintaining that the interests of the travelling public remain paramount.