NCAA warns United Nigeria Airlines over capacity strain, stranded passengers

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has cautioned United Nigeria Airlines against operating beyond its available capacity, which has resulted in stranded passengers and operational failures. This warning came during a meeting between the NCAA Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, and the airline's management at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja.

Najomo ordered United Nigeria Airlines to enhance its flight operations, strictly follow passenger rights regulations, and refrain from expanding routes beyond its current fleet capacity. The NCAA's directive is to ensure sustainable, efficient, and lawful operations within the aviation industry, emphasizing that its regulatory framework is not aimed at driving airlines out of business.

Public Affairs and Consumer Protection Director, Mr. Michael Achimugu, expressed significant concerns over the airline's continuous failure to comply with prescribed operational and consumer protection requirements under Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs), 2023. In response to the regulatory warning, United Nigeria Airlines issued an apology and pledged to resolve all pending ticket refund cases within 14 days, which is the standard refund period.

Meanwhile, the NCAA has directed domestic airlines to reduce flight operations when aircraft are grounded due to technical issues to prevent excessive disruption and hardship for passengers. This directive applies to airlines, including Air Peace, which has also apologized to passengers affected by recent delays and cancellations.

Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema highlighted the financial pressures faced by Nigerian airlines, citing expensive aviation fuel, numerous taxes, and fees, which are putting significant strain on operating margins and profitability.