Domestic airlines in Nigeria refunded a total of ₦1.038 billion to 5,285 passengers between April and June 2025, according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
The NCAA made this disclosure in a post on its official X account on Monday, underscoring its continued regulatory oversight and commitment to enforcing passenger rights.
Although the Authority did not disclose a breakdown by airline or route, it noted that the refunds represent cumulative activity during the second quarter of the year.
“Between the months of April–June (2025), domestic airlines in Nigeria paid refunds to air passengers as follows:
“Total Number of Passengers refunded: 5,285.
“Combined total refunds (in naira): N1,038,505,680.80,” the Authority wrote.
The NCAA has consistently clarified that while passengers may be entitled to refunds or compensation for cancelled flights, such entitlements are subject to specific conditions outlined in Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Regulations—particularly Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
Crucially, a cancelled flight does not automatically guarantee a seat on the next scheduled flight. Instead, affected passengers are entitled to a seat on the next available flight that has open seats.
If the immediate next flight is fully booked, passengers are not entitled to displace other travelers—a practice consistent with international aviation standards.
The NCAA also stated that if an airline issues a cancellation notice at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure, affected passengers are not required to report to the airport, and the airline is not obligated to provide additional assistance.
The NCAA reminded travellers that to qualify for refunds or compensation, they must first file a formal complaint directly with the airline. If the matter is not resolved satisfactorily, passengers are expected to escalate the issue to the NCAA through its official reporting channels.
The Authority stressed that social media posts do not count as official complaints and cannot trigger regulatory action.
