NCAA Warns of Stricter Penalties for Airlines Over Flight Delays

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to impose stricter sanctions on domestic airlines over recurrent flight delays and poor passenger handling, warning that persistent inefficiencies in the sector will no longer be tolerated.

The announcement came on Thursday via the official X handle of the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, who said:

“We will be pushing for stiffer penalties against domestic airlines for chronic delays. We have protected operators, supported them, and explained their positions because it is the right thing to do. While most disruptions are not caused by the airlines, recent events justify heavier consequences where inefficiencies are repeated.”

Achimugu highlighted that the level of support provided by the current administration and aviation authorities should lead to improved service delivery. “When an industry is supported as it has been by President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, the DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo, and our Consumer Protection Department, the least expectation is that significant improvements will be reflected in flight operations and related areas,” he said.

Acknowledging the challenges in the operating environment, Achimugu stressed that certain lapses can no longer be excused. “We understand the difficult environment airlines navigate, but some failures are inexcusable,” he said, citing persistent communication gaps with passengers during delays and cancellations as a key concern.

“These lapses have escalated tensions at airports. Failure to manage passenger information effectively and poor handling have caused the majority of conflicts at our terminals,” he added, pointing to international examples, including a recent $2 million fine imposed on JetBlue in the United States for repeated delays.

He also indicated that regulations may be updated to address emerging challenges. “Regulations will evolve as new issues emerge to ensure the industry continues to operate effectively,” Achimugu said.

Reassuring both passengers and operators, he affirmed that the NCAA remains committed to fairness and accountability. “The NCAA is dedicated to protecting the rights of all stakeholders. Reviews are underway to strengthen the Authority’s ability to enforce compliance for both passengers and operators.”

The announcement comes amid growing complaints from air travellers over flight disruptions. Between July and September 2025, domestic airlines operated 17,731 flights, up from 15,989 in the same period in 2024, while total cancellations fell to 80 from 251 a year earlier.

However, operational challenges persisted. In April 2025, Air Peace temporarily suspended operations after a strike by Nigeria Meteorological Agency staff, stranding passengers at major airports. In May, Max Air faced complaints over multiple delays in Kaduna and Kano, with flights rescheduled late into the night and passengers left without clear updates. In June, United Nigeria Airlines drew backlash after a Lagos-to-Abuja flight was delayed for more than 10 hours, with many passengers reporting a lack of communication from the airline.