Turkish Airlines has indicated it may suspend its Nigeria flight operations if an ongoing labour dispute with aviation workers is not resolved.

The development follows disruptions to the airline’s operations on Tuesday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where aviation workers staged a protest that affected passenger flight schedules.

The workers were protesting the alleged dismissal of seven union members in 2020, a dispute that has remained unresolved for several years.

The protest was triggered by a circular issued by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and signed by its General Secretary, Sikiru Waheed, in a letter dated March 9, 2025. In the letter, the union accused the airline of violating Nigerian labour laws and disregarding a ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NIC).

According to the union, the affected workers are yet to receive their entitlements years after their dismissal.

Waheed said the union was compelled to take action due to what he described as the airline’s continued refusal to comply with Nigerian laws and court directives.

“Following the continued insistence of the management of Turkish Airlines to flagrantly disobey the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Labour Act, and despite our best efforts to resolve ongoing cases of severe intimidation, harassment and victimisation of our members for joining the union, and following the refusal of the management of Turkish Airlines to honour the ruling of the NIC to pay the sacked executive members of the airline, it has become inevitable to embark on lawful measures to compel the management to comply with Nigerian laws in respect of unionisation of workers,” Waheed stated.

Reacting to the disruption on Wednesday, Turkish Airlines said it was engaged in discussions with relevant stakeholders to reach a resolution but warned that it could consider cancelling flights to Nigeria if the situation persists.

In a statement, the airline said it respects the rights of workers and unions to express their views but described the protest as regrettable given that dialogue with NUATE representatives was already ongoing.

“Turkish Airlines operates in full compliance with Nigerian labour laws and the applicable regulatory framework. We expect all stakeholders to pursue their concerns through established legal and dialogue channels rather than such disruptive actions,” the airline said.

The airline added that the safety and security of passengers, employees and operations remain its top priority.

“As demonstrated in the past, should operational conditions fail to meet the required safety standards, Turkish Airlines will take the necessary operational measures. We remain committed to continuing discussions with relevant parties to reach a responsible and constructive resolution, while reiterating our expectation that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure a secure and stable operating environment. Otherwise, we would consider the cancellation option in our flight schedule,” the statement added.