Expect more flight delays, cancellations in 2022 – NiMet tells airlines, passengers

Still reeling from huge costs incurred from flight delays and cancellations over a plethora of industry challenges, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has alerted airline operators and air travellers, of possible increase in the situation.

NiMet, which disclosed this in the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) report made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja, predicted more flight delays and cancellations in compliance with safety regulations during the 2022 rainfall season.

The agency advised airlines to get their weather folders from NiMet`s airport forecast offices and weather briefing rooms for proper planning of their flight operations.

It also advised airline operational crews to attend weather consultation in line with provisions of ICAO Annex3 regularly access weather updates especially during periods of active weather.

The agency further urged airlines to adhere strictly to advisories from NiMet in line with regulations by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

According to NiMet, rainfall season in Nigeria is usually cloudy and accompanied by thunderstorms resulting in frequent turbulence during flights.

The agency, therefore,

“Thunderstorms could lead to flight rescheduling, diversion and cancellation leading to loss of revenue. The usual reduced visibility during heavy downpour will not be uncommon in 2022 rainy season.

“Similarly, during the dry season, dust haze and spells can affect visibility that may affect flight operations. Runoffs and aquaplaning on tarmacs and runways also occur during the rains especially at the peak of the rainfall season.

“This may increase skidding off the tarmac,’’ it said, adding that there would be normal rainfall season in 2022.

The agency further said, “Rainfall characteristics in most parts of Nigeria namely, onset dates, cessation dates, amounts of rainfall and length of season are not anticipated to deviate much from long-term average values implicating the air transport sector.

“Furthermore, the predicted warmer temperatures (especially in April) will also increase the frequency of micro-burst and wind shear over the aerodromes which are threats to flight operations.

“Hot weather decreases the density of air. Consequently, an aircraft would need to travel a longer distance on the runway to generate enough lift to take off.’’

It said that this increases fuel consumption and consequently the operational cost of the airline.

“During the season, there could be increased chances of bird strike due to influx of migratory birds (black kites) from the South (Southern winter) into northern region,’’ it said.

It would be recalled that Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema, last Wednesday, disclosed that carriers operating in the country lost over N20 billion in refunds to passengers, flight cancellations and delays, even as he also said bird strike incidents have cost his colleagues in the industry over $60 million.

Chief Onyema was speaking on behalf of the AON during an interactive session with journalists at the organisation’s secretariat inside the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), ikeja, in Lagos, Wednesday.

 This is also the group absolved domestic operators of blame over flight delays and cancellations experience by passengers, as according to him, ‘airlines are not the cause of delays and cancellations.’

AON member-companies present at the briefing included; Azman, Air Peace, Aero, Arik, OmniBlue, Dana Air, Max Air and Overland Airways. Others are United Airlines, Caverton, Bristow Helicopters and Ibom Air.