Air Peace has suspended all its flight operations across Nigeria due to the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, saying flight safety can no longer be guaranteed.
The airline announced this in a statement on Wednesday, stressing that weather reports from NiMet are essential, especially during the current rainy season.
“As a safety-first airline, we have chosen to act responsibly by suspending operations until NiMet resumes full service,” the airline stated.
Air Peace explained that NiMet is responsible for providing the “Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather” reports, which are important for landing planes safely during heavy rain and thunderstorms. Without these reports at control towers, the airline said, passengers and crew could be at risk.
The airline added, “We understand this may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely apologize. Passengers will be contacted with updates and options for rescheduling.”
The NiMet strike is being supported by three aviation unions — the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals.
In a joint circular, the unions said they had tried for years to improve the poor working conditions and salaries of NiMet workers but with no real success. They accused the agency’s management of breaking an earlier agreement made on January 29, 2025.
The unions stated, “We can no longer continue to cope with present hardships. As the ultimatum given to the management has expired, we have no choice but to resume the suspended strike.”
They directed all NiMet workers across the country to stop work from midnight on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, until further notice.
The strike has left airlines without crucial weather updates needed for safe flights, forcing Air Peace to take the bold step of grounding its operations to avoid possible accidents.
