Nigerian airlines recorded 4,765 delayed domestic flights in August 2026, with Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines accounting for the highest numbers, according to data from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The NCAA’s August summary of domestic airline flight disruptions showed that local airlines operated 7,961 flights during the month. Of these, 4,765 were delayed, while 36 flights were cancelled.
Air Peace recorded the highest number of delayed flights, with 1,330 delays from 1,864 flights operated in August. United Nigeria Airlines followed with 943 delayed flights out of 1,231 operations. Enugu Air recorded 582 delayed flights from 878 operations, while Value Jet reported 435 delays from 767 flights. Other airlines also recorded significant delays during the month. Aero had 246 delayed flights from 469 operations, while Ibom Air recorded 254 delays from 560 flights. Arik Air had 188 delayed flights from 301 operations.
Max Air recorded 204 delays from 336 flights, while Rano Air had 216 delayed flights from 503 operations. Overland Airways recorded 139 delayed flights from 239 operations, while Green Africa had 114 delays from 226 flights. Binani recorded 22 delayed flights from 57 operations, while Xe Jet reported 40 delays from 127 flights. Umza Air recorded 52 delayed flights from 403 operations. NGEAGLE, however, did not record any flight operations during the period.
The NCAA data also showed that the length of delays varied considerably. Of the 4,765 delayed flights, 2,801 were delayed for between 16 minutes and one hour. Another 1,322 flights experienced delays lasting between one and two hours. A further 407 flights were delayed for between two and three hours, while 235 flights experienced delays of three hours or more.
Although the number of cancellations was much lower than delays, 36 domestic flights were cancelled during August. United Nigeria Airlines recorded the highest number of cancellations with eight, followed by Air Peace with seven and Enugu Air with four. The latest figures come amid growing concerns about the reliability of domestic air travel in Nigeria. The NCAA has previously warned airlines about repeated delays and cancellations and urged operators to improve their planning and communication with passengers.
On September 10, Chris Najomo, Director General of the NCAA, raised concerns about the continued disruptions and advised airlines to ensure their flight schedules match the aircraft and crew available to operate them. Najomo also questioned whether airlines were maintaining enough operational buffer to deal with unexpected disruptions.
He acknowledged that factors such as bad weather, flight diversions and airport restrictions can affect schedules, but stressed the importance of proper contingency planning. The NCAA also urged airlines to improve communication with passengers when delays or cancellations occur. The August figures suggest that delays remain a major challenge for Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector. With almost 4,800 flights affected in one month, passengers continue to face uncertainty over travel times, while airlines face pressure to improve operational efficiency.
For the industry, reducing delays will require airlines to strengthen their scheduling, ensure adequate aircraft and crew availability and improve their ability to respond to disruptions. For passengers, the figures highlight the importance of checking flight updates before travelling and allowing additional time for possible changes to scheduled departure times.
As the NCAA continues to monitor airline performance, operators will face increasing pressure to provide more reliable services and reduce the disruptions affecting domestic air travel.
