Nigeria considers sanctions against airlines over flight delays

The Nigerian government is considering sanctions against several domestic airlines, including Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines, following widespread flight delays. Data from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for August indicates that nearly 60 percent of scheduled flights were delayed, with Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines experiencing delay rates of 71 percent and 76 percent, respectively.

In response to these disruptions, the NCAA has issued warnings to airlines such as Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, and Max Air. Aviation experts have attributed the persistent issues to poor business planning and weak regulatory enforcement.

Simultaneously, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has accused aviation unions of selective picketing at Lagos and Abuja airports. AON spokesperson Professor Obiora Okonkwo alleged that unions specifically targeted Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines in an attempt to disrupt their operations, describing the actions as shameful.