Some international airlines operating in Nigeria have continued to run ticketing and sales offices in cities across the country, despite regulations by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) prohibiting such operations.
The practice, which contravenes Part 18.6.1.1(c) of the NCAA Regulations, has raised fresh concerns among aviation stakeholders about weak enforcement and regulatory oversight within the sector.
The regulation explicitly states: ‘Foreign airlines operating into and out of Nigeria for the purpose of scheduled international air services shall not have sales offices or outlets in cities other than the point(s) of entry specified in the subsisting bilateral air services agreement under which the foreign carrier is designated, and this shall be limited to the aerodromes’.
Findings by The Guardian revealed that several major international carriers currently maintain city-based ticketing offices outside designated airport locations.
Aviation experts have described the development as a deliberate attempt by foreign airlines to dominate Nigeria’s travel market and bypass established laws, while calling on the NCAA to urgently enforce compliance.
Though sources within the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development confirmed that the issue had been brought to the regulator’s attention, there had been no formal action or directive from the NCAA as of the time of filing this report.
Aviation expert, Olumide Ohunayo, described the ongoing violation as a regulatory standoff between the NCAA and foreign airlines, accusing both parties of contributing to the problem.
He confirmed that airlines often circumvent the law by using General Sales Agents (GSA), who sell tickets on their behalf from city offices, effectively operating as extensions of the airlines themselves.
Also, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA), Yinka Folami, also confirmed the violation and acknowledged that the issue had already been tabled before the federal government.
He expressed confidence that the situation would soon be resolved in a way that ensures compliance with NCAA regulations.
Folami noted that when the International Air Transport Association (IATA) introduced the Billing Settlement Plan (BSP) to Nigeria about 15 years ago, one of the key agreements was that airlines would close their city sales offices and limit ticketing activities to airports.
According to him, the closure of city offices and the liberalisation of airfares were part of the industry reforms introduced alongside BSP, which aligned with international best practices.
Folami added that airlines could maintain city offices strictly for administrative purposes, while any sales operations should be handled by duly appointed GSAs.
He commended airlines already complying with the regulation and urged the NCAA, government, and IATA to ensure consistent enforcement.
