NCAA: Airline Capacity Shortage Behind Flight Delays in Nigeria

 

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has cited the lack of adequate capacity among Nigerian airlines as the primary cause of flight disruptions and delays across the country. Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, made this known during an interview at an event held by the agency in Abuja on Wednesday.

Achimugu highlighted that the ongoing rise in flight cancellations and delays in Nigeria's aviation sector is largely due to the insufficient number of aircraft operated by local airlines. He explained that this shortage of planes is causing significant scheduling issues, as delays in one flight route often lead to disruptions in others.

However, he noted that steps are being taken to address the issue. The recent signing of the Cape Town Convention (CTC) by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, will allow domestic airlines to access aircraft through dry lease agreements, helping to boost fleet capacity.

“In Nigeria, we face a capacity issue — we simply don’t have enough planes to transport passengers across the country. The Honourable Minister has acknowledged this challenge and has facilitated the signing of the Cape Town Convention, which will enable more planes to enter the Nigerian market,” Achimugu said.

He also mentioned that plans are underway to recalibrate some of the country’s airports as another measure to help alleviate flight disruptions.

In related news, Minister Festus Keyamo recently announced that Nigeria is no longer globally blacklisted in the aviation industry, with the country’s safety rating now improved to 75.5 percent. This development is expected to further enhance the aviation sector in Nigeria.