Aviation Workers End Strike, Flights Set to Resume

Under the deal, the Aviation Workers Union directed all affected employees to report back to their posts immediately and work with management to clear the backlog that had built up since Sunday. The agreement explicitly states that “The employees shall resume their respective duties and cooperate with management to ensure the immediate restoration and continuity of normal operations.” Agency fees owed to the union and previously held by the airports authority will also be released without further delay, removing one of the flashpoints that had prolonged the standoff.

The settlement addresses several long-standing concerns that triggered the go-slow across major airports in the country. On the collective bargaining agreement involving the civil aviation authority, the salaries body withdrew earlier guidance issued in July and issued fresh parameters the same day the deal was signed. Although the union expressed reservations about the new guidelines, it agreed to begin negotiations at once, and the authority committed to implementing whatever outcomes emerge. A separate recognition dispute involving one domestic airline will remain before the courts, with both sides pledging to respect the eventual ruling. Critically, the pact guarantees that no worker will face victimisation, intimidation or disciplinary measures for having taken part in the industrial action.

For travellers the announcement brings welcome relief after two days of cascading delays, cancellations and stranded passengers at the main international hub and other key facilities. Aircraft had been held on the ground for hours, crews had fallen out of position, and connecting journeys had collapsed. Some international services to destinations across Africa, the Middle East and Asia were cancelled or diverted, while domestic routes suffered similar disruption. Airlines have begun the painstaking process of rebuilding schedules, warning that residual delays are likely as the backlog is cleared and aircraft and crews are repositioned.

One low-cost carrier confirmed early on Tuesday that it would restore its full programme while working through the disruption, offering free rebooking to anyone whose plans had been affected. Passengers are still advised to check flight status before leaving for the airport and to monitor official channels for updates. The swift return to duty is expected to ease pressure on terminals that had grown overcrowded and tense, allowing families, business travellers and transit passengers to resume journeys that had been abruptly interrupted.

The episode has highlighted both the vulnerability of a major regional hub to industrial disputes and the value of structured dialogue once talks resume in earnest. With operations now set to normalise and outstanding issues channelled into formal negotiation processes, the focus shifts to whether the commitments made can deliver lasting stability for the workforce and the travelling public who depend on reliable air links.