JUST IN: Nigeria records 4,765 domestic flight delays, 36 cancellations in August — NCAA

Business, News

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reported widespread flight disruptions across the domestic aviation sector in August 2026, with 4,765 of 7,961 scheduled flights delayed and 36 cancelled during the month.

The figures, contained in the NCAA’s August 2026 summary of domestic airline operations, highlight continuing challenges with flight punctuality and reliability across several carriers.

Air Peace recorded the highest number of delayed flights during the period, with 1,330 delays from 1,864 scheduled operations, while United Nigeria recorded 943 delays from 1,231 flights.

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Enugu Air followed with 582 delayed flights out of 878 operations, while Value Jet recorded 435 delays from 767 flights.

The NCAA data also showed that Ibom Air recorded 254 delays and three cancellations from 560 flights, while Max Air had 204 delays and four cancellations from 336 flights.

Aero recorded 246 delays from 469 flights, with no cancellations, while Arik had 188 delays and one cancellation from 301 flights.

Rano Air recorded 216 delays and three cancellations from 503 flights, while Green Africa had 114 delays and three cancellations from 226 flights.

Overland recorded 139 delays from 239 flights without any cancellation, while Binani had 22 delays from 57 flights.

Umza Air recorded 52 delays from 403 flights, while XE Jet had 40 delays from 127 flights. NGEagle did not operate any flights during the period.

The figures show that delays affected a significant proportion of scheduled domestic operations, with the disruption extending across both larger and smaller carriers.

For passengers, persistent delays and cancellations can result in missed onward connections, additional accommodation and meal expenses, prolonged waiting times and disruption to business and personal engagements.

The disruptions can also affect businesses whose employees depend on air travel, while unreliable schedules may have wider implications for tourism, investment and confidence in domestic air transportation.

Airlines, meanwhile, face the challenge of maintaining passenger confidence and protecting their reputation in an increasingly competitive market.

While industry observers have previously identified flight disruptions as having wider economic costs through lost productivity, additional passenger expenses and potential effects on tourism and business activity, the NCAA figures provide the latest snapshot of the scale of delays across Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector.

The report underlines the importance of improved operational reliability and effective passenger communication as airlines and regulators work to strengthen the domestic air transport system as well as an honest framework for compensation of passengers.