Airlines cancel 348 flights, delay 19,323 in six months - NCAA

At least 19,323 flights were delayed by domestic and international airlines in the last six months, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) disclosed yesterday.

Also, 348 flights were cancelled within the period comprising 253 domestic and 95 international.

Out of the delayed flights, 16,880 were domestic while international airlines delayed 2,443 flights.

Findings by Daily Trust indicate that over 50 per cent of the flights operated within the period were delayed majorly due to force majeure bad weather.

Director General of NCAA, Capt. Mukhtar Usman, disclosed this during his interaction with information managers in the information industry where he described charges in Nigeria’s aviation as moderate compared to what obtained in other African countries.

Daily Trust reports that most of the cancellations and delays were as a result of inclement weather which prevented smooth take-off and landing of aircraft.

The DG especially also insisted that the data of flight operations being released by the agency are harmonized figures, saying there is a committee on statistics domiciled in the Ministry of Transportation which involves all agencies of aviation and those outside the industry.

“Our data are actual data. They are verified data, not assumed data”, he said.

The DG further revealed that there were 17, 893 cases of missing/delayed baggage by foreign airlines, warning airlines to strive to reduce the spate of flight delays and cancellations in the industry.