Iyayi: Communication gaps, inadequate facilities behind airlines’ delay crisis

 …Seeks systemic reforms amid Air Peace-NCAA dispute

Chief Executive Officer of Top Brass Aviation Limited and member of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) Board of Trustees, Roland Iyayi, has weighed in on the ongoing crisis surrounding flight delays and cancellations in Nigeria, attributing the core of the issue to a severe lack of proper communication regarding the actual challenges operators face.

Speaking to Aviation Metric, Iyayi lamented that the underlying causes of flight disruptions remain largely unaddressed despite repeated discussions with relevant authorities.

 He stressed that airlines are frequently scapegoated for operational failures caused by factors beyond their direct control, adding that presenting verifiable facts remains their only defence.

 Iyayi’s intervention comes amid a heated public dispute between Air Peace and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over performance data the regulator published.

In a detailed rebuttal signed by Chief Operating Officer Oluwatoyin Olajide, Air Peace accused the NCAA of releasing “distorted data” after systematically omitting over 700 completed flights from its recent audit.

Olajide clarified that the airline operated 2,564 completed flights in August, not 1,864 as the regulator reported, arguing that the omission artificially inflated its flight delay percentages.

However, the NCAA leadership, led by Director-General of Civil Aviation Captain Chris Najomo and Director of Public Affairs Michael Achimugu, has stood firm on its statistics.

Najomo countered that Air Peace’s high volume of delays stems from an acute capacity shortage, arguing that the carrier schedules more flights than its active, serviceable fleet can support.

“It is normal for Air Peace to dispute the report because it is the airline most hit by flight delays due to its sheer fleet size,” Captain Najomo noted. “Rather than dispute the data, it should serve as an opportunity for the carrier to reflect on its operations.”

Evaluating the controversy, Iyayi raised serious concerns over the quality and credibility of aviation statistics generated in the country, warning of the broader economic implications of inaccurate reporting.

“For instance, if the number of flights submitted or captured for an airline is significantly lower than the actual number of flights operated, the airline’s reported revenue and other performance indicators will also be affected. This raises questions about the reliability of the data being used to assess the industry,” Iyayi explained.

He noted that Nigeria currently lacks a single, credible, and auditable data repository, a gap the AON highlighted to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development upon assuming office.

“We stressed the need for a central repository where credible aviation data could be collected, verified, and accessed. Unfortunately, that has not been adequately addressed,” he stated.

Iyayi also criticised the government’s handling of sector interventions, noting that decisions often appear tailored for public relations rather than solving structural bottlenecks such as access to financing, operational efficiency, and infrastructure deficits.

Addressing On-Time Performance (OTP), Iyayi urged industry watchers to look beyond the airlines and examine shortcomings across the entire aviation ecosystem.

“I recently arrived in Abuja, and the pilot announced that because of congestion on the ground, the aircraft would have to hold for about 30 minutes. That means additional fuel consumption and increased operational costs for the airline,” he said.

“The problem does not end there. Inadequate parking infrastructure can further delay aircraft turnaround times. If passengers waiting to depart on the same aircraft experience a delay, the airline may subsequently be blamed for poor performance or incompetence, even when the root cause is infrastructure.”

He also pointed out that ground transport between terminals and aircraft often falls under airport authority jurisdiction rather than the airline’s, insisting that performance audits must factor in these variables.

To resolve these recurring friction points, Iyayi advocated for proactive systems that detect operational strain early, alongside improved public relations from the operators themselves.

“Airlines also need to communicate more effectively with the public. If an airline is experiencing delays caused by airport congestion, inadequate infrastructure, or other external factors, passengers should be clearly informed. Better communication can help prevent misinformation and ensure responsibility is properly assigned,” he stated.

He concluded that lasting progress in Nigeria’s aviation sector will require all key players, including government agencies, regulators, airport operators, airlines, and industry unions, to take responsibility and address systemic deficiencies collectively.

Wole Shadare