The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other stakeholders in the aviation sector have agreed to extend operational hours at sunset airports to 10 pm. Sunset airports are facilities that currently operate between 7 am and 7 pm due to the lack of night-flying infrastructure.
In a communiqué issued after a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, the NCAA stated that the decision aims to mitigate flight disruptions, particularly cancellations at airports without 24-hour operations. The meeting, chaired by the Acting Director-General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, was attended by representatives from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
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The meeting also addressed operational challenges exacerbated by the harmattan season, revealing that 2,434 out of 5,291 flights in September and 2,791 out of 5,513 flights in October were delayed. Stakeholders urged airlines to optimise flight schedules, maintain standby aircraft, and ensure operational efficiency to minimise disruptions.
Additionally, the meeting condemned incidents of unruly passenger behaviour, including assaults on airline staff over delays and cancellations. The NCAA and FAAN plan to launch public sensitisation campaigns on this issue while issuing a joint statement to address rising tensions between passengers and airlines.
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