…NCAA Says Nearly Six in Every 10 Domestic Flights Delayed in August 2026
The Nigerian Government is considering imposing sanctions on Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, and other domestic carriers over incessant flight delays, after the two airlines topped the chart of delayed operations in August 2026.
CDA News Nigeria reports that data released by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) showed that 4,765 of the 7,961 flights scheduled for August 2026 were delayed — meaning almost six in every 10 flights did not operate as scheduled.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that a further breakdown indicated that 71 per cent of Air Peace flights and 76 per cent of United Nigeria Airlines flights were delayed, leaving passengers to endure bitter experiences amid high airfaresÂ
The NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the regulator had met with Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, and Max Air over the delays and issued stern warnings. He urged passengers to consider flying with alternative airlines, saying: “When one airline is continuously misbehaving, buy tickets on another airline and make your flight”.
Aviation expert Capt. John Ojikutu blamed the persistent delays and cancellations on weak enforcement of aviation regulations and poor business planning by airlines. “The regulation is there to protect the customer. What is the enforcement?” he asked, accusing the regulatory agency of being “very, very ineffective”.
Ojikutu also attributed the crisis to airlines deploying aircraft too large for available passenger traffic on certain routes, particularly the Lagos–Abuja corridor. He advised carriers to develop credible business plans, operate regional routes, and establish bases outside Lagos, citing the former Nigerian Airways model of using smaller aircraft to feed major airports.
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