NCAA Warns United Nigeria Airlines: Stop Overstretching Fleet, Fix Flight Operations By Raymond Enoch
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern warning to United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) to immediately improve its flight operations, strengthen passenger protection and halt route expansion beyond the capacity of its existing fleet.
The warning was delivered by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, during a consultative meeting with the airline’s management at the NCAA Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
Najomo said the regulator’s responsibility was not to drive airlines out of business, but to ensure that operators remain sustainable, efficient and compliant with Nigeria’s aviation regulations.
He, however, cautioned United Nigeria Airlines against stretching its available capacity at the expense of passengers, particularly amid recent operational disruptions which left travellers stranded without adequate communication or assistance.
The DGCA’s position reflects growing regulatory concern over the need for airlines to align their route networks with available aircraft and operational resources, rather than overextending their capacity and leaving passengers to bear the consequences.
Also speaking, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, expressed serious concern over what he described as the airline’s systematic failure to comply with prescribed operational and consumer protection requirements under Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs), 2023.
Achimugu criticised the airline’s handling of passenger communications, particularly updates on flight delays and ticket refunds, describing the recent disruptions as “gross.”
He warned that such conduct would no longer be tolerated by the apex aviation regulator, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in the treatment of air travellers.
Similarly, the Director, Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Capt. Donald Spiff, urged the carrier to scale down its active routes whenever it experiences Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG) situations.
Spiff also cautioned the airline to strictly comply with established regulatory guidelines whenever it seeks to open new routes, reinforcing the NCAA’s position that route expansion must be matched by adequate fleet and operational capacity.
The regulatory intervention comes against the backdrop of increasing concerns over flight disruptions and passenger welfare, with the NCAA signalling that airlines must put operational reliability and passengers’ rights at the centre of their business decisions.
