Nigerian domestic airlines refunded more than N1 billion to nearly 5,300 passengers between April and June 2025, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced.
The NCAA said on Monday that a total of N1,038,505,680.80 was returned to 5,285 air travellers over the three-month period.
The refunds covered tickets and services affected by flight cancellations and delays on local routes. While the NCAA did not specify which airlines or routes had the most refunds, it stressed that the move shows its efforts to make sure passengers are protected and airlines stick to their promises.
The statement also clarified key passenger rights. According to NCAA rules, if your flight gets cancelled, you are eligible for a seat on the next available flight, but not necessarily the next scheduled one if it’s already full. Airlines aren’t required to remove passengers to create space for others, in line with global standards.
The NCAA confirmed that if airlines give at least 24 hours’ notice ahead of departure that a flight is cancelled, passengers shouldn’t come to the airport and the airline doesn’t have to provide additional support. But if notice comes less than 24 hours before take-off and a traveller is already at the airport, the airline must offer care such as refreshments, hotel stays (when needed), booking on another airline, or even direct compensation, depending on the situation.
To claim a refund or compensation, passengers must file a formal complaint directly with the airline. If the airline does not resolve the issue, the case should then be escalated to the NCAA through its official complaint channels, not through social media, which cannot trigger any official action, the authority warned.
Travellers are encouraged to report issues via the NCAA’s consumer protection website or emails and to study the national aviation rules so they know what they are entitled to. The NCAA says this helps people address problems faster and makes the industry more passenger-friendly.
