13 Domestic Airlines Summoned By NCAA Over Flight Cancellations,  Delays

By Akinwale Kasali

Following series of complains that have trailed the indifferent approach of 13 Domestic Airlines to Cancellation and Delays, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has  summoned them.

The NCAA called for an Emergency Meeting over the growing number of flight delays, cancellations and affecting passengers across the country.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja.

This was confirmed by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, via his X handle on Tuesday.

This intervention comes amid rising complaints from air travelers and a series of incidents involving unruly passenger behavior at airports, a trend NCAA attributes partly to poor airline adherence to aviation rules.

Achimugu disclosed that the meeting would address a range of critical issues, including persistent flight delays and cancellations, Passenger handling protocols and welfare obligations, unresolved refund and compensation complaints, enforcement of safety measures like the phone switch-off directive, protection for cabin crew and NCAA officials, and the Introduction of RFID baggage tagging and real-time flight monitoring technology.

The NCAA had emphasised that airlines must uphold the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, particularly Part 19, which outlines specific obligations to passengers in the event of delays or cancellations, including providing hotel accommodations for stranded travelers between 10:00pm and 4:00am.

The regulatory body stated its readiness to begin “naming and shaming” airlines that consistently flout aviation rules particularly those that delay or cancel flights without due process or passenger support.

Achimugu noted that airlines cancel flights late at night without making provisions for passenger welfare, leaving NCAA consumer protection officers to manage agitated travelers. This, he said, exposes officials to unnecessary risk.

He warned that the era of leniency is over, stating, “For infractions that are sanctionable, the Authority will apply the fullest measures possible. We will not abandon the letters of our regulations.”

Achimugu, however, reiterated that while the NCAA acknowledges the challenges faced by domestic carriers, operators must meet the expected standards if they wish to be regarded as world-class.