Domestic air travellers in Nigeria faced another difficult month in August.
Thousands of scheduled flights failed to depart on time.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has now warned airlines over the situation.
The regulator is also considering further action.
Nearly 60% of Flights Delayed
NCAA data showed that 4,765 of the 7,961 flights scheduled for August 2026 were delayed.
That represents almost 60 per cent of all scheduled flights.
Air Peace recorded delays on 71 per cent of its flights.
United Nigeria Airlines recorded 76 per cent.
The figures come at a time when passengers are already dealing with expensive air tickets.
NCAA Issues Warning
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, said the regulator had met with some affected airlines.
Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines and Max Air were among the carriers invited for discussions.
According to Achimugu, the airlines received stern warnings.
He said the NCAA is taking regulatory steps to address the problem.
Achimugu also encouraged passengers to consider other airlines when delays become persistent.
Expert: Rules Are Not Enough
Captain John Ojikutu said the problem goes beyond the airlines.
He argued that Nigeria already has regulations designed to protect passengers.
However, he questioned the effectiveness of enforcement.
“Regulation is already there. What is the effectiveness of the enforcement on the airline?”
Ojikutu said passengers know their rights.
They also know where to submit complaints.
The responsibility, he said, is for regulators to respond effectively when violations are reported.
Poor Planning Adds to the Problem
Ojikutu also pointed to airline business planning.
He said carriers should study passenger numbers before opening routes or increasing flight frequency.
For example, he questioned whether some airlines have enough passengers to justify several daily flights between Lagos and Abuja.
According to him, operating large aircraft without enough passengers can create financial and operational problems.
More Regional Routes Needed
The aviation expert also urged airlines to look beyond Lagos.
He said carriers should consider establishing bases in other parts of Nigeria.
Cities such as Kaduna, Jos, Minna and Sokoto could play a greater role in regional air travel.
Under his proposed approach, passengers could travel from smaller cities to major airports through connecting services.
Lessons From Nigerian Airways
Ojikutu also referred to the former Nigerian Airways.
He said the old national carrier used different aircraft sizes for different routes.
Larger aircraft served major routes.
Smaller aircraft connected regional destinations.
He believes a similar approach could help airlines match aircraft capacity with passenger demand.
Airport Charges Could Be Reviewed
Ojikutu further suggested categorising airports according to passenger traffic.
Charges could then reflect the level of activity at each airport.
He believes this could encourage airlines to operate more regional routes.
It could also reduce the heavy concentration of flights on major routes.
Airline Survival Remains a Concern
The aviation expert also questioned the short lifespan of some Nigerian airlines.
He linked the problem partly to weak business planning.
According to him, airlines should present credible and sustainable business plans before commencing operations.
He also called for stronger regulatory oversight of those plans.
Passengers Want Reliable Service
For travellers, the debate comes down to one major issue: reliability.
Passengers pay for tickets expecting airlines to operate their flights as scheduled.
When delays become frequent, they face missed appointments, extra costs and disrupted plans.
The NCAA is now under pressure to ensure that existing regulations provide meaningful protection for air travellers.
