Aviation authorities extend sunset airport hours to reduce flight disruptions

• Published On: 30 December 2024 at 16:55

To address flight disruptions, particularly at airports with limited operating hours, aviation authorities have decided to extend operating hours at sunset airports until 10 p.m.

These airports, which are currently open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. due to a lack of night flying facilities, will benefit from the extended hours, reducing congestion and increasing scheduling flexibility.

Delays at destination airports, particularly those from Lagos and Abuja, have been known to cause cancellations at airports that do not operate 24 hours a day.

Passengers are frustrated because the limited operating hours create uncertainty and inconvenience.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority convened a stakeholders' meeting at the NCAA Annex in Lagos to address rising flight disruptions, and it was agreed that operational hours at sunset airports would be extended until 10:00 p.m.

This extension will apply to airports that have the necessary facilities and lighting to ensure safe operations during extended hours.

A key decision made at the meeting was to set up mobile courts to handle cases involving unruly passengers.

Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), was in attendance, as were representatives from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), led by Vice-President Mr. Allen Onyema, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace.

The meeting was held to discuss the widespread flight disruptions caused by the harmattan season and other operational challenges, with a focus on finding long-term solutions through collaboration and effective policy implementation.

Capt. Chris Najomo, the Ag. Director-General of Civil Aviation, revealed at the meeting that 2,434 of the 5,291 flights operated in September 2024 were delayed and 79 were cancelled.

He also stated that out of 5,513 flights operated in October 2024, 2791 were delayed and 111 were cancelled.

The NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, issued a communiqué at the end of the meeting advising airlines to optimize and trim their flight schedules to a manageable size while ensuring the availability of standby aircraft to handle Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations.

The meeting also condemned the rise in unruly passenger behavior, such as physical assaults on airline employees due to flight delays or cancellations. It was agreed that the NCAA and FAAN would conduct joint sensitization campaigns on unruly passenger behavior, followed by a public statement.

The communique also stated that "AVSEC officials are to deploy promptly during passenger agitations at airports and de-escalate aggression professionally."

"Efforts are underway with local leaders to address waste management and other environmental issues near airports in order to reduce the risk of bird strikes.

"Unauthorised access to tarmacs will not be tolerated, and stricter security measures will be enforced."