NCAA threatens harder sanctions over flight delays

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has signalled plans to introduce harder sanctions in opposition to home airways over repeated flight delays and poor passenger dealing with, warning that recurrent inefficiencies will not be tolerated within the sector.

This was introduced on Thursday through the official X deal with of the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Client Safety, Michael Achimugu, the place he stated,

He stated, “We shall be pushing for stiffer penalties in opposition to home airways for power delays. We’ve protected operators, stood for them, defined for them, been insulted for them, and supported them as a result of it’s the proper factor to do. The vast majority of flight disruptions should not brought on by the airways, however latest occasions justify the necessity for heavier ramifications the place there’s recurrent inefficiency.”

He famous that the extent of assist prolonged to airline operators by the present administration and aviation authorities ought to moderately translate into improved service supply.

In keeping with him, “The pure regulation of nature is that when an trade is supported by the federal government in the way in which that President Bola Tinubu has completed, in the way in which that the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has completed, in the way in which that the DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo has completed, in the way in which that our Client Safety Division has completed, the least expectation of reciprocity is for outstanding enhancements to replicate in flight operations and another facets.”

Whereas acknowledging the difficult working atmosphere confronted by airways, he insisted that sure lapses may not be excused. Achimugu said, “One understands, and has reiterated, the difficult working atmosphere that operators need to meander in, in an trade that’s beginning to enhance when it comes to insurance policies pushed by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Growth (learn the CTC Follow Course, IDERA, Client Safety consciousness, and so on.), however there are some lapses which can be inexcusable.”

He emphasised persistent failures in communication with passengers throughout disruptions, noting that this has worsened tensions at airports. “Immeasurable instances, I’ve confused the necessity for airways to enhance communication throughout flight delays and cancellations. I’ve confused the necessity to adjust to the laws within the areas of HOTAC and First Wants Compensation.”

In keeping with him, mishandled passenger info has fuelled lots of the confrontations seen at terminals. “The failure to handle info correctly, in addition to poor passenger dealing with, has been accountable for almost all of passenger violence at our airport terminals.”

Citing worldwide precedent, he pointed to a latest sanction in america, saying, “Not too way back, the US authorities fined Jet Blue airline to the tune of $2m for ‘power delayed flights,’ the primary of its variety within the US.”

He added that laws could have to evolve in response to rising challenges. “Rules could evolve as challenges take expression and impression the trade.”

Reassuring each passengers and operators, Achimugu maintained that the NCAA stays dedicated to equity and accountability within the aviation sector. “The NCAA is dedicated to defending the rights of all stakeholders, and a evaluate that strengthens the Authority to implement compliance for each passengers and operators needs to be completed.”

The transfer comes in opposition to the backdrop of rising passenger complaints over widespread delays within the nation’s aviation sector.

The NCAA stated home airways operated 17,731 flights between July and September 2025, up from 15,989 flights in the identical interval of 2024. Whole cancellations fell sharply to 80 flights in Q3 2025, in contrast with 251 cancellations recorded a yr earlier.

In April 2025, Air Peace quickly suspended flight operations after a strike by the Nigeria Meteorological Company employees, affecting departures at main airports, together with Lagos and Abuja, and leaving passengers stranded for hours.

In Might 2025, passengers reported a number of delays on Max Air flights, with a number of flights out of Kaduna and Kano rescheduled late into the evening with out clear communication, sparking complaints on social media.

In June 2025, United Nigeria Airways confronted backlash after a flight from Lagos to Abuja was delayed by greater than 10 hours, with many purchasers saying they obtained no official updates from the service throughout the wait.