The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has urged airlines to enhance service delivery and adhere strictly to aviation regulations to curb the growing problem of flight disruptions in the country.
The Acting Director General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, issued the warning during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos themed “Finding Lasting Solutions to Flight Disruptions.”
Captain Najomo highlighted the significant impact of flight delays and cancellations on passengers, businesses, and national development. Captain Najomo explained that the meeting was convened in response to a surge in passenger complaints regarding issues such as flight delays, cancellations, and delayed luggage.
Sharing statistics to underscore the scale of the problem, Captain Najomo revealed that in September 2024, domestic airlines operated 5,291 flights, of which 2,434 experienced delays, and 79 were canceled. The situation worsened in October, with 5,513 flights recorded, 2,791 delays, and 111 cancellations. While acknowledging that some disruptions are unavoidable due to factors like weather, Najomo criticized airlines for poor management of such incidents.
He called for professional handling of flight disruptions and urged airlines to prioritize passengers’ rights, particularly during the harmattan season when adverse weather conditions are common.
“If you have ten flights, trim it down and leave one aircraft on standby to ensure seamless operations, If issues arise, inform the NCAA’s Chief Operations Officers (CPOs) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) on time. Trying to handle everything alone will escalate the situation” Najomo advised.
The NCAA also encouraged domestic airlines to adopt the agency’s complaint portal to facilitate faster issue resolution and support.
Speaking at the meeting, the Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mr. Allen Onyema, identified weather conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and unruly passenger behavior as major contributors to flight disruptions.
He urged aviation agencies to address incidents of unruly passengers who, in some cases, vandalize airline property and assault staff.
“If a flight is delayed due to weather-related safety concerns, passengers should not disrupt other operations,” Onyema said.
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, assured stakeholders that efforts are underway to enhance airport infrastructure. She also announced a zero-tolerance policy for unruly passenger behavior, with plans to prosecute offenders and implement a no-fly list for repeat violators.
“To act in a way that demeans staff or damages airport facilities is unacceptable. We will prosecute offenders and ensure they face consequences, including being blacklisted from air travel”, Kuku stated.
Aviation agencies reaffirmed their commitment to monitoring and enforcing industry standards to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s aviation sector. Stakeholders agreed on the need for greater collaboration to rebuild public confidence in air travel and enhance service delivery.
The meeting concluded with a collective call to action, emphasizing cooperation among all stakeholders to restore pride in Nigeria’s air transport system and ensure a better experience for passengers.
