The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, warned domestic airlines against flouting passenger protection regulations and operational breaches.
The NCAA therefore vowed it would take tougher action against such breaches, stressing that no carrier will be shielded from sanctions.
These were contained in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, in a post on his verified X.
The warning comes amid fresh complaints over flight disruptions involving some domestic carriers and signals a stricter regulatory approach as the NCAA seeks to ensure that airlines align their schedules with available operational capacity while meeting their obligations to passengers during disruptions.
Achimugu specifically stated that the Authority would step up enforcement and hold airlines accountable for failing to meet regulatory requirements, particularly when operational disruptions leave passengers stranded.
The statement further warned airlines with aircraft on ground (AOG) against maintaining normal schedules when their available fleet cannot support the operations.
Achimugu said that carriers affected by grounded aircraft should scale down their schedules instead of continuing to sell tickets they may be unable to honour.
The NCAA specifically told the airlines that passengers are entitled to welfare services when flights are significantly delayed, adding that passengers subjected to delays of at least two hours should receive light refreshments, while those delayed for six hours must be provided with a proper meal.
It further stated; “Where a delay extends to 10 p.m., affected passengers should also be offered accommodation, except where the passenger resides in the city where the disruption occurs and other applicable conditions apply”.
Air Peace, one of the airlines affected by the recent disruptions, attributed delays and cancellations across parts of its network to a combination of operational and external factors.
A statement on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, by the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, tendered an apology to affected passengers, saying the disruptions were caused by a false fire alarm, bird strike, adverse weather, technical challenges and delays in aviation fuel availability.
Olajide explained that one aircraft was grounded after an inadvertent false fire alarm, while another remained out of service for several days following a bird strike.
She added that bad weather forced diversions and caused delays, with some flights eventually cancelled.
According to her, technical problems requiring mandatory inspections and maintenance also contributed to the disruptions, while delays in obtaining aviation fuel affected some operations.
Air Peace said it understood the frustration caused to passengers and was taking measures to limit the impact of the disruptions, stressing that safety considerations would not be compromised in an attempt to restore normal flight schedules.
The statement further said that the airline would not return an aircraft to service until its technical teams and established safety procedures had confirmed that it was fit to fly.
