Nigeria’s aviation regulator has issued a stern warning to domestic airlines, declaring that operators who continue to violate passenger rights and operational regulations will face stricter sanctions.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it would no longer tolerate practices that leave passengers stranded, particularly as airlines grapple with operational disruptions linked to aircraft shortages and maintenance challenges.
Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, announced the warning while addressing growing complaints from air travellers over delays, cancellations and inadequate passenger care.
According to the regulator, airlines experiencing Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG) situations must reduce their flight schedules to match available capacity rather than continue selling tickets for flights they cannot reliably operate.
The NCAA stressed that overbooking schedules despite known operational limitations has contributed significantly to passenger frustration and disrupted travel plans across the country.
Achimugu reminded airlines that existing regulations clearly spell out their obligations to passengers whenever delays occur. Under the rules, passengers delayed for at least two hours are entitled to light refreshments, while those facing delays of six hours or more must be provided meals.
Where delays extend late into the night, airlines are expected to provide hotel accommodation and logistics support for affected passengers, except where the passenger already resides in the city where the delay occurred.
The warning comes amid increased scrutiny of airline operations and rising public demands for better service delivery within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Meanwhile, Air Peace attributed recent disruptions to multiple operational challenges, including adverse weather conditions, bird strikes, technical issues, aviation fuel delays and a false fire alarm that affected flight schedules.
The airline apologised to passengers affected by cancellations and delays, assuring travellers that safety considerations would always take precedence over commercial interests.
Industry observers believe the NCAA’s tougher stance signals a broader effort to improve accountability and restore public confidence in domestic air travel as passenger traffic continues to rise across Nigeria.
