By Abubakar Yunusa
United Nigeria Airlines and Max Air recorded the highest rate of flight cancellations in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, according to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
In its Q3 2025 flight delay and cancellation data, which was compared with the same period in 2024, the NCAA said United Nigeria Airlines recorded a cancellation rate of 0.63 percent between July and September 2025, down from 0.70 percent in Q3 2024.
Max Air recorded a cancellation rate of 0.42 percent in Q3 2025, compared to 0.60 percent in the corresponding period of 2024.
Arik Air posted a cancellation rate of 0.30 percent in Q3 2025, a significant improvement from the 1.70 percent recorded in Q3 2024.
Similarly, Air Peace recorded a sharp drop in flight cancellations, falling from 1.70 percent in Q3 2024 to 0.09 percent in Q3 2025.
Aero Contractors recorded a cancellation rate of 0.30 percent in both periods under review, while Green Africa reduced its rate from 0.50 percent in Q3 2024 to 0.27 percent in Q3 2025.
Ibom Air also improved performance, cutting cancellations from 0.80 percent in 2024 to 0.12 percent in 2025 and NG Eagle recorded 0.03 percent in Q3 2025, down from 0.10 percent in the previous year.
Overland Airways, Rano Air and Value Jet each recorded 0.03 percent cancellations in Q3 2025, compared to 0.30 percent, 0.10 percent and 0.30 percent, respectively in Q3 2024.
XEJet recorded a 0.12 percent flight cancellation rate in Q3 2025.
According to the NCAA, a total of 17,731 domestic flights were operated between July and September 2025, compared to 15,989 flights during the same period in 2024.
The authority said 80 flights were cancelled in Q3 2025 — a significant drop from the 251 cancellations recorded in Q3 2024.
The NCAA said Air Peace recorded the highest rate of flight delays in Q3 2025.
The airline posted a delay rate of 6.87 percent between July and September 2025, down from 8.07 percent recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
Max Air followed with a delay rate of 3.75 percent in Q3 2025, compared to 4.11 percent in Q3 2024, and United Nigeria recorded 3.42 percent, slightly lower than the 3.48 percent reported in the previous year.
Ibom Air recorded a delay rate of 1.23 percent in Q3 2025, improving from 1.68 percent in Q3 2024, and Aero Contractors posted 1.20 percent in 2025, up marginally from 1.11 percent recorded in 2024.
Arik Air recorded a delay rate of 3.00 percent in Q3 2025, higher than the 0.96 percent recorded in Q3 2024.
Green Africa reduced its delay rate from 0.33 percent in 2024 to 0.15 percent in 2025, while NG Eagle recorded 0.39 percent in Q3 2025, up from 0.24 percent in the previous year.
Also, Overland Airways recorded 0.45 percent delays in Q3 2025, down from 1.11 percent in Q3 2024, and Rano Air posted 1.74 percent in 2025, compared to 0.54 percent recorded in 2024.
Value Jet recorded a delay rate of 0.93 percent in Q3 2025, improving from 1.62 percent in Q3 2024.
Umza Air and XEJet recorded delay rates of 0.24 percent and 1.62 percent, respectively in Q3 2025.
The authority said a total of 765 flights were delayed between July and September 2025, compared to 843 delayed flights recorded during the same period in 2024.
