The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is taking regulatory steps against airlines over persistent delays on domestic flights.
Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are among the carriers facing scrutiny.
The move follows a review of domestic flight operations in August 2026.
4,765 Flights Delayed
According to the NCAA, 4,765 out of 7,961 scheduled flights were delayed in August.
That means almost six out of every 10 flights failed to operate as scheduled.
Air Peace recorded delays on 71 per cent of its flights.
United Nigeria Airlines recorded an even higher figure of 76 per cent.
The figures have raised fresh concerns among passengers who already face high domestic airfares.
NCAA Meets Airlines
NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the authority had begun taking action.
He said the NCAA had met with Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines and Max Air over the repeated delays.
The airlines were also given stern warnings.
Achimugu said further regulatory measures could follow if the situation continues.
He also advised passengers to consider other airlines when making travel plans.
“When one airline is continuously misbehaving, buy tickets on another airline and make your flight,” he said.
Expert Blames Weak Enforcement
Aviation expert Captain John Ojikutu offered a different perspective.
He blamed the persistent delays and cancellations on weak enforcement of existing regulations.
Ojikutu is the Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult.
He said regulations already exist to protect passengers.
The bigger issue, he argued, is whether those rules are being properly enforced.
“The regulation is there to protect the customer. What is the enforcement?”
He said passengers know where to report violations.
However, he believes regulatory authorities must act whenever complaints are received.
Airlines Also Face Planning Problems
Ojikutu also blamed some operational problems on weak business planning by airlines.
He said airlines must study passenger demand before choosing routes and deciding how often to operate them.
According to him, some carriers may be using aircraft that are too large for the number of passengers available on certain routes.
He questioned the number of airlines operating several daily flights between Lagos and Abuja.
Spread Operations Across Nigeria
The aviation expert also called for airlines to establish operational bases outside Lagos.
He said concentrating too many flights in Lagos can create unnecessary pressure on major routes.
Ojikutu suggested that airlines should explore routes linking cities such as Kaduna, Jos, Minna and Sokoto.
Passengers from those cities could then connect to major airports.
He referred to the old Nigerian Airways model as an example.
According to him, the former national carrier used larger aircraft on major routes and smaller aircraft for regional connections.
Over Airline Survival
Ojikutu also raised concerns about the short lifespan of some Nigerian airlines.
He said poor planning contributes to the frequent emergence and disappearance of carriers.
He therefore urged the NCAA to pay closer attention to airlines’ business plans before approving their operations.
He also proposed different airport categories and charges based on passenger traffic.
The goal, he said, should be to encourage airlines to serve more regional routes.
What Happens Next?
The NCAA has already engaged some of the airlines involved.
However, the August figures show that flight delays remain a major issue for domestic passengers.
The regulator’s next steps could determine whether airlines face stronger sanctions.
For passengers, the immediate concern remains simple: getting to their destinations on time.
