BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU/CHIKA KWAMBA/OGORAMAKA AMOS
When a flight is cancelled or postponed, the disruption rarely ends at the gate. Behind every blinking departure board lies a chain of consequences, missed business deals, derailed celebrations, strained family moments, and financial setbacks.
Across Nigeria, travellers are increasingly sharing familiar stories: hours spent waiting in crowded terminals, flights that take off without explanation, and schedules thrown into disarray. For many, these incidents are no longer rare inconveniences but recurring realities that shape daily life.
Thus, The Pointer delves into the experiences of affected passengers, the toll these disruptions take on both personal and professional spheres, and the urgent reforms required to restore confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
“I Lost a Client Because My Flight Never Left the Ground”
Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Project Monitoring, Hon. Oyinye Joseph, who is also a real estate consultant, said a delayed flight translates directly into financial loss. His 7:00 a.m. Air Peace flight from Asaba to Abuja was meant to get him into the capital before 9:00 a.m. for a crucial meeting. Instead, he arrived at 7:00 p.m., 12 hours behind schedule, without any clear explanation from the airline.
“The client couldn’t wait. They moved on with another consultant,” he said. “That single flight cost me almost ₦5 million in projected earnings. I felt helpless.”
Joseph said flight delays have become a normal part of his work life, affecting his business, family time, and mental well-being. His experience mirrors that of many business travellers who depend on punctuality and precision in a highly competitive economic climate.
Not all losses can be measured in naira. For Selina, a UK-based nurse who travelled home to surprise her father on his 70th birthday, the emotional toll was greater than any financial cost. Her domestic connection from Lagos to Benin City was postponed twice due to “operational reasons.” Even after pleading to be rerouted through Asaba so she could take a cab to Benin, nothing was done.
“When I finally reached Benin, the party was over,” she recalled. “My father said it was fine, but I felt terrible. I had travelled across continents only to be stranded on a domestic flight.”
She also listened to other travellers share their own stories, nights spent stranded in airports with no accommodation, missed weddings, funerals, job interviews, and medical appointments. “It’s not fair,” she added. “We already deal with bad governance and insecurity; the one thing we should be able to rely on, safe, timely travel, is now making life even harder.”
Despite widespread frustration, some official observers say Nigeria’s aviation sector has made progress. The Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, noted that flight frequencies from Benin and Asaba airports have increased in recent years.
“Before, it was just one flight to Abuja from Benin. Now, flights can depart four times from Benin Airport and also from Asaba,” he said. “The problem is that we don’t have enough aircraft. Even when the money is available, airlines struggle to buy new planes.”
He listed several systemic challenges facing the sector: ageing aircraft fleets, operational inefficiencies, insufficient infrastructure, rising fuel costs, forex shortages, and high maintenance fees. These factors, he explained, create conditions where airlines overbook, under-communicate, and fail to meet expected standards.
Prof Tonukari acknowledged that he has also experienced delays with local airlines, though he has not personally lost business as a result. “Cancelled flights happen everywhere, even internationally,” he said. “But we must agree they have an impact on everyone.”
“My Flight Was Shifted… and Still Took Off Without Me”
Former Senatorial candidate for Delta North and Diaspora leader, Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, had a planned trip from Abuja to Asaba that became a lesson in the unpredictability of domestic travel. His 7:00 a.m. flight was shifted to 9:00 a.m. due to “technical issues,” but by the time he arrived at the airport an hour before the new departure time, the flight had already taken off.
After heated exchanges at the counter, he was eventually placed on a flight to Anambra and then had to hire a taxi to Asaba. The experience left him frustrated, though he remains hopeful that the system can improve.
“We Waited From 1:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.”
A traveller who requested anonymity described her ordeal flying from Sokoto to Abuja in 2022 after completing her NYSC. Her 1:15 p.m. flight was delayed due to bad weather, an announcement she initially thought meant a short wait. Instead, she and other passengers remained in the terminal until 8:00 p.m.
“I had arranged for a cab to pick me up from the airport to my hotel,” she said. “Imagine someone waiting hours for you, and you don’t arrive until 10:00 p.m. A trip that should have ended by 3:00 p.m. stretched painfully late into the night. I don’t wish that experience on anyone.”
What Travellers and Experts Say Must Change
Passengers, aviation experts, and industry insiders agree on key reforms that could transform Nigeria’s flying experience: Stronger enforcement of passenger rights ensuring airlines compensate travellers and communicate transparently, Investment in infrastructure modern runways, better lighting, improved navigation tools, and expanded terminals, Modernisation of airline fleets to reduce breakdowns and technical delays, Better regulatory oversight, with the NCAA enforcing penalties for habitual offenders, Government support and policy reforms, especially around aviation fuel, forex access, and safety standards, Improved staff training to enhance customer service and communication during disruptions.
For many Nigerians, flying is not a luxury; it is a vital connector of markets, families, and opportunities. Yet, in a country already navigating economic and infrastructural challenges, flight disruptions have become another layer of unpredictability.
Travellers are no longer asking for apologies. They are demanding accountability.
Speaking with our correspondent, Chidi Ndu, a building construction entrepreneur at Rukpokwu in Port Harcourt, said the cost of delayed flights runs deeper than inconvenience. It cost him a dream contract.
Mr Ndu relates his experience: “I had spent weeks preparing for a multi-million-naira pitch with European investors in Abuja. The meeting was fixed for 1 p.m., and I booked a 7:30 a.m. flight to ensure early arrival.
But the airline had other plans.
“The airline delayed the flight for four hours without any honest explanation,” Chidi recalls bitterly. “First, they said boarding would start ‘shortly’. Then they said the aircraft was undergoing ‘technical checks’. My heart was beating fast. I knew what was at stake.”
By the time I arrived in Abuja, it was 3 pm, and the meeting was already over by the time I got to the office.
“This is for a flight I had booked for 7:30 am. It’s not like I didn’t make arrangements early. I would have mentioned the Airline’s name here because they really cost me a lot; it destroyed months of preparation,” he says. “I lost money, credibility, and a rare opportunity.”
Timothy Ade, a business coach and public speaker, had been booked for a major leadership seminar. Everything was set: the hall, the sound system, the waiting audience.
“I had a seminar at Uyo, which was to kick off at 10 a.m. I had booked a 7 am flight with Ibom Air two days before the event, hoping I would get there on time. Only for me to get to the Airport and my flight was delayed,” Timothy said.
“I was so disorganised that the organisers kept calling, and I was supposed to be the first speaker at the event with the waiting audience. The organisers panicked, and I ended up arriving at the venue at 11:30 am.
“I was so destabilised. Everything I had prepared to say at the event disappeared from my head; the whole thing made me look unprofessional, but it wasn’t my fault, and it damaged my credibility. In my line of work, reputation is everything.”
Flight Delay Stole My Precious Moment —- NGO Worker
A worker with a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Port Harcourt, Gift Ugonna, said the cost of flight delays carries emotional scars that may never fade.
Her father had fallen critically ill in Abuja. She rushed to the airport and booked a 10 am flight to Abuja. But the flight was delayed for two hours, with no clear explanation.
“My mom kept calling me, honestly, I didn’t know the situation was critical. I felt helpless and restless because I didn’t know the reason why my flight was delayed,” Gift said quietly. “When I landed, my father had passed away two hours earlier, and I was devastated”.
“That delay stole something I can never get back, the last moment with my dad, I did get to see him before he passed away.”
Also, a Tech startup founder, Godwin James, remembers a delay that set his company back. “I had a return flight from Lagos scheduled so that I could supervise a major product rollout.
“My flight was delayed for five hours. It disrupted a lot of things at that moment. We were supposed to have our app launch that day, and as the founder, I was supposed to be there, but everything was delayed. My staff waited. Clients got angry. We missed our targets,” he said. “The delay created stress and broke our momentum.”
Also, Sarah Johnson, a sales executive, said flight delays have become a routine occupational burden. “I travel weekly. The delays are unpredictable,” she told our correspondent. “I’ve missed connecting flights, paid extra hotel bills, rescheduled meetings, and sometimes lost clients.”
“Sitting for hours at the airport kills your mood and affects your performance a lot because you will be disorganised at that point. Most times, there won’t be any tangible reason for a delayed flight.”
Aviation Engineer Gives Reasons For Flight Delays
An aviation engineer, Benjamin Ifeanyi, told our correspondent, “The biggest cause of flight delays is the small number of aircraft most Nigerian airlines operate.
“Some have five aircraft but schedule as if they have 10,” he said. “Once one aircraft has a fault, the entire day’s schedule collapses. This ripple effect is felt most heavily in airports like Port Harcourt.”
“Also, Nigeria’s airlines are running old fleets. Older aircraft need more maintenance. If an engineer spots an issue, even a small one, the plane cannot take off.”
He also said that there is always poor communication on the part of the Airlines. “Airlines in Nigeria often fail to give honest, timely updates. Passengers become anxious and angry because they don’t know what is happening.”
He notes that clear communication can reduce stress, even when delays are unavoidable, as he explained that weather contributes significantly to delays. “Thunderstorms, early morning fog, and sudden rainfall can ground flights. Safety must come first.”
He added that modern weather-navigation equipment can reduce weather-related delays, but many Nigerian airlines still operate older aircraft.
Another respondent, Emmanuel Obimwa, a forex trader based in Asaba, shared his experience with flight disruptions. ‘’Honestly, I have had a few rough moments at the Airport. One particular experience still annoys me to date. I had an early morning flight to Lagos for an important appointment. I got to the airport on time, only for them to announce a long delay because of a technical problem. No clear explanation, no proper updates, we were all just sitting there, confused and frustrated.
‘’That delay ruined my entire day’s plan. I ended up missing my meeting in Lagos, which affected my work and even caused me some financial loss because the arrangements I made were non refundable. It wasn’t just the money; it was the stress, the disappointment, and the feeling of being powerless. For me, airline disruptions don’t just waste time; they affect real-life commitments. Situations like that make travelling very frustrating.’’
According to Mr Emmanuel Kolapo, a frequent flyer, he shared some of his most painful experiences. He said, ‘’I held a program last year in January where I invited a guest from Abuja. After I secured the ticket and everything, after we finished the project, and we were supposed to go back to Abuja, they said that the flight had been rescheduled for some hours. So, we came back, and then the man, my guest, had to stay in Akure overnight, and because of that, he missed a very important appointment in Abuja.
‘’That’s not all, the following day, he went back, because he was asked to come in the afternoon, but they said it had been shifted to the next day. He kept the whole information to himself because he had spent a lot of money, adding to the stress of spending two nights in Akure. It was an unpleasant experience. At the time he called me, he was lamenting the kind of treatment that the airline meted out to them.
‘’I really felt for him, the man suffered a lot, he missed the program that he wanted to attend, and a lot of things like that; the cost of staying in the hotel and the rest. In fact, he said he wanted to book another flight from another airport, but he considered the cost. It was a very unpleasant experience.
‘’Another one is that of my daughter when she was supposed to resume an important work. It was a flight to Abuja, then to Minna. It was a flight to Abuja anyway, eventually we had to plead at her resumption place for more time, but it took a lot of intervention, thank God. Supposing she missed that job? Again, my daughter’s flight was cancelled, and it took months before the refund was made. So, we had to book another flight at a higher price, and there was no reasonable excuse given for the cancellation on that particular flight.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Perla Travels Ltd, Elizabeth Umezuruike, said, ‘’It is very stressful and disappointing. But such an experience is inevitable in the aviation industry. As a travel agent, we are always prepared and ready for such an occurrence.’’
For another respondent, Dauda Mohammed, ‘’it was a terrible experience for me. On one occasion, my flight was both rescheduled and cancelled. I remember when I was travelling to Ogun State, my flight was rescheduled and later cancelled, making it difficult for me to catch up after resorting to rebooking through Lagos and using a vehicle to connect afterwards. These cost me staying extra days (paying for accommodation, rescheduled meetings, and changing the entire plans).
‘’Another experience was from Sokoto to Abuja, where I was only notified of the reschedule at the counter and was forced to use other means, which also cost me not attending an interview, which was scheduled for the next day, dashing my hope of catching up with the appointment. Up to this moment, I am unable to claim back the fare I paid. The recent one was about rescheduling to Borno from Abuja, where I was forced to go by road all the way after waiting for three days, which also cost me patience, stress, and loss of work time.’’
In Abuja, the CEO of Nitamorris Travels & Tours Ltd, Benita Chris, shared how she felt anytime her clients complained of any disruption in the itinerary. “I feel devastated and unhappy due to the unpleasant tone of the same client. It changes my schedule for that day and sometimes disrupts my plan. I know of a client who missed an important family event due to airline disruption, even personal commitments, incurred extra costs on meals, accommodation, or alternative transport.’’
