The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revealed that 190 flights were cancelled and 5,225 delayed across domestic airlines in September and October 2024.

Chris Najomo, the acting director-general of the NCAA, disclosed these figures on Friday during an engagement session with airline operators in Lagos. Najomo expressed concern over the growing frequency of flight disruptions, emphasizing the need for better management to minimize inconvenience to passengers.

“Delays and cancellations are sometimes unavoidable, but poor management of these disruptions is not,” Najomo stated. He urged airlines to handle operational, technical, and weather-related challenges professionally, particularly during the harmattan season when poor weather conditions frequently impact flight schedules.

Providing a breakdown, Najomo said 5,291 domestic flights were operated in September, with 2,434 delays and 79 cancellations recorded. In October, 5,513 flights were operated, with 2,791 delays and 111 cancellations.

He reminded operators of their obligations under the Nigeria Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection) Regulations, 2023, which outline passenger rights during disruptions. “These regulations are not optional; they are mandatory obligations,” Najomo stressed.

The NCAA also disclosed that on December 24, it had sanctioned five airlines—two international and three domestic—for violating Part 19 of the 2023 regulations. Violations included failure to refund passengers within the stipulated timeframe, non-responsiveness to directives, issues with missing or damaged luggage, short-landed baggage, and mishandling of flight delays and cancellations.

The NCAA reiterated its commitment to ensuring that airlines prioritize passenger rights and adhere to regulatory standards to enhance service delivery in the aviation sector.