Flight Chaos in Nigeria: Airlines and Regulator Clash Over Delays and Cancellations
Nigeriaâs Aviation Crisis: A War of Words The skies over Nigeria are in turmoil as flight delays and cancellations spike, sparking a heated blame game between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and domestic airlines. đ By the Numbers (2024): 47.1% of flights delayed (33,235 out of 70,543) 1.7% outright cancellations (1,189 flights) NCAAâs Accusations: "Airlines Are Overreaching" The regulator pins the chaos on:đŽ Airlines operating beyond capacityđŽ Poor scheduling practicesđŽ Safety violations "Weâd rather cancel a flight than risk lives," said NCAAâs Michael Achimugu, noting six airlines sanctioned in 2025, including Kenya Airways, Air Peace, and Arik Air. Airlines Fire Back: "Fix the System!" Carriers like Air Peace counter that delays stem from:â ïž Aging infrastructure (e.g., bird strikes, runway issues)â ïž Forex shortages for spare partsâ ïž Regulatory bottlenecks "Safety isnât negotiableâeven if it means cancellations," an Air Peace statement stressed. Aviation Experts Weigh In âïž Olumide Ohunayo (Aviation Roundtable):"Airlines must address systemic flaws, not just blame safety." đ Global Context:While delays occur worldwide, […]