If you were stuck at the airport in Lagos or Abuja on Monday with a boarding pass going nowhere, you’re not alone – and there’s finally some good news.

Good news for travellers – domestic airlines are back in the air.

After two days of chaos that left thousands stranded across the country, aviation unions have temporarily suspended their industrial action, and airlines have begun resuming operations.

As first reported by cbinews.tv, the development came just hours after barricades went up at domestic terminals and flight boards went blank.

Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, Air Peace spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, confirmed the airline had resumed operations but warned there’s still a massive backlog to clear.

His words: “We are trying to see how many flights we can operate with the number of passengers who have been waiting at the airport. Yes, they stated that it has been suspended.”

And what a backlog it is. Air Peace alone operates around 70 regional and international flights daily. By Tuesday afternoon, the carrier had already cancelled 29 flights – and that number was expected to climb as they work out how to re-accommodate stranded passengers.

So, what actually happened?

This wasn’t just an aviation spat. The strike was called by the Joint Aviation Trade Unions’ Forum – that’s NUATE, ATSSSAN, ANAP and AUPCTRE – in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) indefinite strike, but also over their own long-standing demand for improved remuneration at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

In a joint statement, the unions said they were pausing the action after “positive developments” in negotiations with the Federal Government, with the suspension expected to last for five working days while talks continue.

If this feels like déjà vu, that’s because it is.

Nigeria’s aviation sector has become almost synonymous with last-minute strikes. In January 2023, NAHCO ground handlers downed tools at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, grounding international flights. In 2022 and 2024, similar disputes over salaries and conditions led to total shutdowns. For context, Nigeria’s domestic air market handles over 16 million passengers a year, according to NCAA data, and Lagos remains West Africa’s busiest hub – so even a 24-hour halt costs airlines billions of naira and leaves travellers sleeping on terminal floors.

For now, union officials say barricades at the domestic wings have been dismantled, and both human and vehicular movement has resumed. But operators are warning that it won’t be an instant reset. With aircraft and crews out of position, expect delays and rescheduling headaches well into the week.

Our advice? If you had a flight booked for Monday or Tuesday, don’t just turn up at the airport. Call your airline first, check your SMS/email for rebooking, and get there early.

We’ll keep you posted on cbinews.tv as talks progress.

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