These flight delays, which began on August 27, 2024, have caused significant inconvenience to the travelling public.
The arrivals and subsequent delayed departures of British Airways flights to and from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which have occurred for about three consecutive days.
The government through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will conduct inspections of all aircraft on the Nigerian route to ensure they meet regulatory standards under its Foreign Aircraft Safety Assessment Programme (FASAP).
Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, confirmed that British Airways has been experiencing delays since August 27th, causing significant inconvenience to passengers.
He stated that the NCAA has contacted the airline to investigate the root cause of these delays and will take necessary actions to protect passenger rights and prevent future occurrences.
In a related incident, Qatar Airways passengers were left stranded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Friday after their aircraft aborted takeoff due to a punctured tire.
The aircraft, Flight QR 1432, was scheduled to depart for Doha but picked up a nail on the runway, deflating one of its front tires.
A Qatar Airways staff member, Mr. Godwin, assured passengers that the emergency repair was in its final stages, with both front tires being replaced as required by maintenance protocols. However, passengers expressed concern about the delay, particularly those with connecting flights.
When asked about the Qatar Airways incident, Achimugu stated that he was not yet aware of the situation but promised to follow up on it.