NCAA THREATENS STRICTER PENALTIES FOR AIRLINES WITH RECURRING DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern warning to domestic airlines over persistent flight delays and cancellations, signaling plans to impose stiffer penalties on operators that consistently underperform.
Speaking on Thursday, NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu highlighted that while the Federal Government has consistently supported airlines amid industry challenges, recent incidents of operational inefficiency necessitate stricter regulatory action.
“Majority of flight disruptions are not caused by the airlines, but recurrent inefficiency and poor passenger handling justify the need for heavier ramifications,” Achimugu said on X (formerly Twitter). “We have protected operators, supported them, and even defended them publicly, but the expectation of reciprocity—remarkable improvement in flight operations—has not been met.”
He emphasized the importance of improved communication during flight disruptions and compliance with passenger rights regulations, including HOTAC and First Needs Compensation. Achimugu noted that mismanagement of information and poor passenger engagement have contributed to passenger unrest at airports.
“Globally, airlines are held accountable for chronic delays; for instance, the U.S. authorities recently fined JetBlue $2 million for repeated flight disruptions,” he added.
Achimugu stressed that NCAA is committed to safeguarding the rights of passengers and operators alike, and announced that regulatory frameworks may evolve to strengthen compliance enforcement across the aviation sector.
“The industry has seen policy improvements under the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and the DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo, but some lapses are inexcusable,” he concluded.
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