The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has warned United Nigeria Airlines against expanding its operations beyond its available fleet capacity, stressing that passengers must not bear the consequences of the airline’s operational limitations.
The regulator expressed concern over recent operational lapses that left passengers stranded without adequate communication or assistance.
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, disclosed this during a consultative meeting with the airline’s management at the NCAA Corporate Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Najomo directed the airline to improve its flight operations, comply strictly with passenger rights regulations and refrain from expanding its route network beyond the capacity of its current fleet.
Capt. Najomo stressed that the NCAA’s regulatory framework was not designed to force airlines out of business but to ensure sustainable, efficient and lawful operations across the industry.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, however, expressed serious concern over what he described as United Nigeria Airlines’ systematic failure to comply with operational and consumer protection requirements under Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs), 2023.
Achimugu also criticised the airline’s passenger communication, particularly its handling of flight delay updates and ticket refunds.
He described the recent disruptions as “gross”, warning that such disregard for regulatory requirements and passenger rights would no longer be tolerated.
The Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Capt. Donald Spiff, urged the airline to scale down its active routes whenever it has an Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG) situation.
Spiff also cautioned the carrier to comply strictly with established regulatory guidelines when opening new destinations.
Responding to the NCAA’s directives, United Nigeria Airlines apologised for the disruptions and pledged to clear all outstanding ticket refund cases within 14 days, in line with the official refund timeline
