Flight delays and cancellations in Nigeria are set to continue as domestic airlines grapple with financial challenges. Despite holding 32 Air Operator Certificates (AOCs), including 12 scheduled operators, airlines still struggle to efficiently manage their operations.
During the first quarter of 2023, domestic airports witnessed over 2.7 million passengers, but 10,128 faced delays, and 284 flights were canceled by 11 domestic airlines.
Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), pointed out that the lack of financial capacity among airlines contributes to the problem. Moreover, inadequate infrastructure, check-in counters, limited aviation fuel availability, and adverse weather conditions further exacerbate flight delays.
Muneer Bankole, CEO of Med-View Airlines, stressed that Nigerian carriers cannot compete with foreign airlines due to unique environmental and operational challenges they confront.
