NCAA Blames Flight Disruptions On Airline Shortages

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, stated on Wednesday that shortage of operating airlines in Nigeria is the main cause of flight disruptions and cancellations.

Achimugu disclosed this in Abuja at the Civil Aviation Conference theme: “Building Viable Aviation Industry for National Economic Growth and Development.”

He said the recently signed Cape Town Convention and Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) agreements might help airlines access more aircraft, potentially reducing flight disruptions, lowering airfares, and boosting the aviation sector and the economy.

Recall that the Chairman of the United Nigerian Airlines and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Prof Obiora Okonkwo during an interview had said the shortage of aircraft is responsible for the high cost of air tickets in the country.

Also, Achimagu said the Aviation minister alongside the Chief Executive Officer of NCAA Chris Najomo had decried capacity problems as factors hindering the sector from rendering optimal services to customers.

He said, “We have a capacity problem in Nigeria. We simply do not have enough aircraft to ferry people around the country. The minister and the DGCA have stated this before and we will not help ourselves by hiding the truth.

“We have capacity problems but there are also solutions and the most important of the solutions is the signing of the Practice direction; Cape Town Convention as well as the signing of the revised advisory circular on Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA).

“Now, more planes can come into the country and if we have an adequate number of planes, there would be an automatic reduction in flight disruptions because lack of capacity is one of the major reasons why there are flight disruptions.

“When there is a disruption in flight schedule, it affects the remaining schedule for the day because the airline does not have alternative aircraft to ferry people, hence they would have to waste passengers’ time and everything would suffer. If they have enough aircraft in their fleet, these issues will no longer arise” Achimagu said.

He added that the NCAA, along with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), is adjusting some airports to help reduce flight disruptions and delays.