The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a strong warning to both domestic and international airlines, urging them to halt the practice of selling tickets to Nigerian travelers without ensuring proper visa documentation.
This directive comes in response to mounting complaints from passengers who were deported or denied entry at transit points during international travel.
According to the NCAA, airlines have been found complicit in boarding passengers for international routes without verifying the validity of their travel documents, only for such travelers to be sent back to Nigeria after being denied entry at intermediate or final destinations.
The regulatory body expressed concern that this not only causes emotional and financial hardship for affected passengers but also damages the credibility of the Nigerian aviation sector.
The Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, stated that such practices were unacceptable and in violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.
He emphasized that it is the responsibility of all airlines and their agents to inform passengers ahead of time about any visa-related restrictions or the likelihood of being refused entry.
In accordance with Part 19.21.1.1 of the 2023 regulations, the NCAA insists that all carriers must assess and inform passengers about their admissibility to destinations before boarding.
This measure is aimed at preventing avoidable deportations and the resultant passenger dissatisfaction.
Airline Performance Report: 2024 Sees Over 38,000 Flight Delays and 1,320 Cancellations
In a separate development, the NCAA released its executive summary of flight operations for 2024, revealing a staggering 38,061 delayed flights and 1,320 cancellations across both domestic and international routes.
According to the report, domestic airlines recorded the majority of delays, with 33,235 out of a total of 70,543 flights operated by 15 local carriers.
On the international front, 30 foreign airlines reported 4,426 delayed flights from a total of 14,359 operations.
Regarding cancellations, 1,189 were attributed to domestic airlines, while international carriers accounted for 131.
The report also highlighted specific airline performance. Air Peace topped the chart for delays in the domestic category, with 7,619 delays out of 15,413 flights. It was followed by Arik Air, which had 5,027 delays from 10,699 operations, and United Airlines (domestic) with 4,559 delays out of 7,794 flights.
Among international airlines, Delta Air Lines, ValueJet, and Uganda Airlines were identified as the most delay-prone.
On the other end of the spectrum, Virgin Atlantic stood out with the least number of delays — just 26 out of 362 operations, representing an 8 percent delay rate and only one flight cancellation. United Airlines and Saudi Air also performed well, with delay rates of 11 and 16 percent respectively.
The NCAA reaffirmed its commitment to improving service quality and operational efficiency within the Nigerian aviation sector, calling on all stakeholders to comply strictly with regulatory standards.
