Flight Delays Worsen as Lagos, Abuja Airports Run Short of Aircraft Parking Space
By Aboki Forex —
Nigeria's airports are running out of space to park aircraft, and the shortage is now forcing take-off and landing delays at the busiest terminals in Lagos and Abuja. Airlines are struggling to secure parking positions, leaving passengers to absorb longer waiting times and disrupted travel schedules.
Sources say the problem is most acute at Lagos' domestic terminals and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where apron capacity has failed to keep pace with the number of aircraft using the facilities.
GAT and MM2 under pressure
An airport source said the situation at Lagos' General Aviation Terminal (GAT) and Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MM2) has become increasingly difficult. Aircraft sometimes cannot depart until other planes are pushed back first. Incoming flights are held in the air while waiting for clearance to land because no parking position is free.
"Both domestic terminals in Lagos, which are the main hubs and turnaround points for the vast majority of the local industry, are severely capacity constrained," the source said.
The congestion is not limited to peak periods. The source described the shortage of parking positions as chronic, affecting daily operations.
"MM1, GAT and Abuja airports are congested. We do not have sufficient capacity across all three airports for the number of aircraft we operate," the source said.
What FAAN and MM2 are doing
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has begun expanding airport aprons to ease the pressure. MM2 in Lagos plans to introduce a slot system to manage aircraft movements better.
MM2 handles a large share of domestic flights, and the shortage of parking positions leaves airlines with limited room to hold aircraft between flights. That puts extra strain on turnaround operations and ground handling.
The source said the system has reached a critical point, with aircraft circling for landing clearance and others unable to move until a parking or departure position opens up.
Fuel costs add to airline pressure
The parking crisis comes on top of rising aviation fuel costs. Jet A1 prices now range from about N1,190 to N2,150 per litre across airports, adding pressure on domestic carriers.
The surge followed global oil supply disruptions linked to tensions between the United States and Iran and attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities.
What it means
For Nigerian travellers, the immediate effect is more delays on domestic routes, particularly out of Lagos and Abuja. For airlines, slower turnarounds mean fewer flights per aircraft per day and higher operating costs. Until apron capacity and slot management improve, congestion at the country's main hubs is likely to keep eating into airline schedules and passenger time.