NCAA orders Ibom Air to compensate passengers over cancelled flight

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed Ibom Air to compensate passengers affected by the cancellation of the airline’s flight on Friday, September 5, 2025.

The directive followed a complaint by a passenger on X, who accused Ibom Air of poor service.

The passenger wrote: “After moving a 3:30 flight to 5:20, you still call your customers to come down and pick up their luggage.

“You’ve monopolised the system as the only airline travelling to Akwa Ibom, yet you frustrate the very people you should be serving. Shame on you.”

Responding on Friday night, the NCAA spokesman, Michael Achimugu, disclosed that the flight was cancelled over a technical issue.

Achimugu stated: “There was an initial delay with the operating aircraft in the morning due technical. That is force majeure.

“That delay had a knock-on effect on all other routes serviced by that aircraft, and was the reason for rescheduling the flight from 15:30 to 17:50.

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“The airline is ready to fly, but that delay means that Uyo airport, which is a sunset airport, would be closed by the time they arrive. As a result, it is safer to cancel the flight and reschedule for tomorrow.”

He noted that he had spoken with the management of the airline, adding that some passengers were provided hotel accommodation.

He stated that all passengers would receive emails in Friday night with the offer of 25% compensation.

The NCAA spokesman said: “Flight disruptions happen. Where the airline would be sanctioned is if they fail to comply with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations, per care for the passengers. In this case, that care is being provided.

“The original flight time was 15:30, not mid-day. Ibom Air has one of the best on-time performance records in the industry.

“One of the reasons why Nigeria has safe skies despite all of the criticisms is because, for the slightest safety risk, aircraft would never be allowed to fly.

“We prefer the ensure the safety of lives and delay some flights, than to put lives at risk because people need to fly. Only the living would fly tomorrow.”

Achimugu, therefore apologised to all affected passengers, adding that more aircraft are expected to be deployed into Nigeria, “and most airlines would have rescue aircraft for situations like this very soon.”

The Star