RismadarVoice Reporters
September 17, 2026
More than 60 per cent of domestic flights covered by recent Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority operational statistics were reportedly delayed or cancelled, renewing concerns over the reliability of air travel across the country.
Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines were among carriers recording high numbers of disruptions during the period under review, although aviation stakeholders say raw statistics may not fully explain why flights were affected.
Aviation analyst Fred Chukwuelobe argued that while airlines should be held responsible for disruptions within their control, several factors affecting Nigerian flights originate outside individual carriers.
These include airport congestion, adverse weather, inadequate navigational infrastructure, bird strikes, security restrictions, technical problems and limitations on night operations at some airports.
CONGESTION CAN TRIGGER MULTIPLE DELAYS
Limited apron capacity at busy airports such as Lagos and Abuja can prevent aircraft that are ready for departure from immediately leaving their parking positions.
Such delays can subsequently affect other flights scheduled for the same aircraft, particularly where crew duty limits or destination airport operating hours are reached.
Poor visibility can also disrupt operations at airports where available navigational equipment does not permit aircraft to safely operate below prescribed visibility limits.
Bird strikes present another challenge. An affected aircraft may require inspection or repairs before returning to service, potentially disrupting several scheduled flights.
Temporary restrictions associated with VIP movements and unexpected technical faults can similarly affect airline schedules.
QUESTIONS OVER PERFORMANCE DATA
The analysis also highlighted differences between some NCAA figures and operational records attributed to Air Peace.
According to the published account, NCAA figures indicated that Air Peace operated 1,864 flights in August, while the airline reportedly placed its own figure at 2,564 flights.
The airline was also reported to have attributed 391 delays to internal operational issues and 1,257 to external factors.
The differing figures have prompted calls for greater clarity on how delays and cancellations are classified and reported.
Industry stakeholders maintain that performance reports should distinguish disruptions caused directly by airlines from those resulting from weather, airport infrastructure, security restrictions and other external events.
They argue that greater transparency on the causes of disruptions would provide passengers with a clearer assessment of airline performance while helping regulators identify wider weaknesses within Nigeria’s aviation system.
