Overland Airways, Azman Air, Arik Air and United Airlines were identified as the domestic carriers with the highest flight‑delay rates in a review of 2022 operations. The findings come from the Executive Summary of International and Domestic Operations in Nigeria (January–December 2022), compiled by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and obtained by our correspondent.
In terms of delay frequency, Overland Airways topped the list, operating 2,926 flights with 2,451 delays—a delay rate of 84 %—and 11 cancellations. Azman Air recorded 2,555 delays out of 3,713 flights (69 % delayed), while Arik Air logged 6,440 delays from 9,750 flights (66 % delayed) and 110 cancellations. United Nigeria, which had 42 cancellations, operated 6,097 flights with 4,000 delays, also reflecting a 66 % delay rate. Dana Air experienced 2,906 delays from 4,440 flights (65 % delayed) and 24 cancellations.
Air Peace operated the greatest number of domestic flights—24,449—with 14,908 delays, resulting in a 61 % delay rate and 129 cancellations. Aero Contractors reported 3,106 flights, 1,889 delays and 99 cancellations (61 % delayed). Green Africa operated 4,648 flights, 2,111 of which were delayed (45 % delay rate) and recorded 79 cancellations.
The annual report also highlighted broader activity: 26 airlines conducted 13,003 international operations to and from Nigeria, while 11 domestic carriers flew 80,328 local flights. International airlines carried 1,648,225 inbound passengers and 1,855,467 outbound passengers; domestic airlines handled 6,309,664 inbound and 6,359,077 outbound passengers. International operations experienced 4,628 delays and 82 cancellations, whereas domestic operations suffered 47,144 delays, 31 air returns, 48,234 baggage delays, 91 air returns and 449 delayed baggage items.
Among international carriers, Cronos had the fewest flights (53) but the highest delay rate (77 % with 41 delays). Turkish Airlines operated 654 flights with 420 delays (64 %); Kenya Airways logged 205 delays out of 344 flights (60 %); Air Côte d’Ivoire recorded 314 delays from 609 flights (52 %); and EgyptAir had 350 delays out of 706 flights (50 %).
The Airline Operators of Nigeria, the umbrella body for domestic carriers, attributed the high number of delays to inadequate airport infrastructure. Vice President Allen Onyema urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to add more check‑in counters, especially at Abuja airport, warning that “flight delays and possibly cancellations may be a topic for discussion this yuletide if nothing is done about the current inadequate counters for domestic airlines to check‑in passengers.”
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