Poor management, delayed payment of workers’ salaries, weak financial planning, expensive aircraft spare parts and inadequate recurrent training are among the factors contributing to the failure of airlines in Nigeria, aviation expert Dr Christopher Edeh has said.

Edeh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eastwing Aviation Institute (EAI), Enugu, made the assessment on Saturday at the 2026 South-East Aviation Summit/Eastwing Youth Aviation Competition (SASEYC) 2.0 in Enugu.

He urged prospective investors to understand the technical, regulatory and financial demands of running an airline before committing capital to the industry.

Why airlines struggle in Nigeria

According to Edeh, the history of Nigeria’s aviation industry shows that operating an airline requires much more than acquiring aircraft and securing regulatory approval.

He cited the collapse or disappearance of airlines including Nigeria Airways, Okada Air, Bellview Airlines, Med-View Airline, Sosoliso Airlines and Imo Air as examples of the difficulties operators have faced over the years.

The aviation expert said poor management and inadequate financial planning could quickly undermine an airline’s operations.

Unpaid salaries can drive aviation professionals away

Edeh identified delayed payment of salaries as one of the risks facing airline operators.

He explained that pilots, engineers and other highly skilled aviation workers could begin looking for alternative employment when their salaries were repeatedly delayed.

“When you owe them one or two months, the pilots and engineers start looking for another place. That is the beginning of the end of that airline,” he said.

He therefore urged airline operators to treat personnel costs as a critical component of their financial planning.

Aircraft maintenance comes at a high cost

Another major challenge, according to Edeh, is the cost of maintaining aircraft and replacing components.

He explained that aircraft parts are subject to strict service-life limitations and must be replaced when they reach their prescribed operating limits, regardless of whether they appear to be functioning normally.

He said this makes aircraft maintenance substantially different from maintaining ordinary vehicles.

“Every part you put inside an aircraft is life-limited,” he said.

For airlines operating in an environment where foreign exchange movements, importation costs and other expenses can affect the price of aviation equipment, these requirements can create significant financial pressure.

Recurrent training is essential

Edeh also stressed the importance of continuous training for aviation personnel.

He said aviation training cannot be treated as a one-time exercise because pilots, engineers and other professionals must regularly update their knowledge and skills.

According to him, engineers should undergo recurrent training periodically, while pilots are required to undertake regular recurrent training as part of maintaining their professional competence.

He warned that attempts by operators to cut training costs could have implications for operational standards.

NCAA plays key regulatory role

Edeh described the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as the industry’s principal regulator, responsible for monitoring operators and ensuring that aviation activities comply with established requirements.

He said aviation operators and training institutions must obtain the appropriate regulatory approvals before commencing operations.

Edeh used EAI as an example, explaining that the institution approached the NCAA before beginning operations and underwent regulatory inspection before receiving approval as a training organisation.

Fuel and operating expenses add pressure

The aviation expert also pointed to aviation fuel and other operating expenses as significant considerations for anyone planning to establish an airline.

He advised potential investors to undertake detailed financial planning and understand the industry’s cost structure before entering the market.

An airline must account for expenses ranging from aircraft acquisition and maintenance to personnel, insurance, fuel, training, regulatory compliance and other operational requirements.

Nigeria has produced aviation professionals

Edeh noted that Nigeria previously had a larger number of airlines and developed aviation professionals through institutions such as the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

He said strengthening local aviation education and training could help provide young Nigerians with opportunities to develop careers within the industry.

EAI, he said, was established partly to expose young Nigerians to aviation education without requiring them to travel abroad to begin their training.

“We want to give these youths the opportunity so that they will know that tomorrow they have a choice to make, either to go overseas or do it in Nigeria,” he said.

Young Nigerians encouraged to consider aviation careers

Edeh encouraged young people interested in aviation to explore careers including piloting, aircraft engineering and other technical and professional fields.

However, he cautioned that aviation qualifications require considerable commitment, time and proper training.

He said EAI had established collaborations with aviation institutions and training organisations in Nigeria and other countries to expand opportunities for aspiring aviation professionals.

He also encouraged students participating in the youth aviation competition to make use of the opportunities available to them.