The Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, has issued a stark warning over the growing number of New AOCs in Nigeria’s aviation industry. He said the expected increase in operators and aircraft despite good intentions could put further pressure on airport infrastructure already struggling with congestion.
Okonkwo said competition remains important for the industry. However, he argued that the rapid growth in airline approvals must be matched by adequate infrastructure, including ramps, aircraft parking areas, passenger facilities and other airport services.
Speaking at the 2026 League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents Conference, the United Nigeria Airlines chairman said the biggest concern was no longer simply attracting more operators. Instead, he said stakeholders must examine whether airports can accommodate the aircraft that could follow the approval of New AOCs.
“The biggest challenge facing the industry today is the number of AOCs that are coming out,” Okonkwo said.
New AOCs Raise Infrastructure Capacity Questions
Okonkwo’s warning centres on the relationship between airline approvals and physical airport capacity. He said more airlines could bring additional aircraft and seats, but that expansion could become difficult if airports lack sufficient infrastructure.
The United Nigeria chairman said his concern should not be interpreted as resistance to competition. He stressed that a competitive airline market benefits passengers and strengthens the industry when the supporting infrastructure is available.
“I am not apprehensive of competition because the more competitive we are, the healthier we become,” he said.
His argument, therefore, is about planning rather than restricting market entry. Okonkwo wants the authorities and industry stakeholders to consider what happens after New AOCs are issued and operators begin bringing aircraft into service.
He disclosed that United Nigeria Airlines took about two to three years to obtain its AOCs. He then questioned the speed at which some New AOCs are reportedly being processed in the current environment.
“It took me about two, three years to get my AOCs. Some of these AOCs are coming out now in six months,” he said.
“I do not know. I stand to be corrected. The speed they are coming out.”
Okonkwo said the industry could see several more operators emerge before the end of the year. He estimated that about five or six additional airlines could potentially receive approvals within that period.
That prospect makes infrastructure capacity a more immediate concern. Each new operator could eventually require aircraft parking, passenger processing, check-in facilities, gates, ground handling and other airport resources.
Okonkwo said the pressure is already visible at some Nigerian airports. He pointed to a recent experience involving a United Nigeria Airlines flight at Abuja Airport.
According to him, the aircraft remained on the ground for about 30 minutes because passengers could not disembark. He attributed the delay to congestion on the airport ramp.
“United Nigeria Airlines flight was on ground 30 minutes in Abuja,” Okonkwo said. “The passengers could not disembark from the plane because there was congestion in the ramp.”
The incident, he argued, demonstrates why the infrastructure implications of new AOCs deserve greater attention. More operators may increase available seats, but infrastructure bottlenecks could limit the benefits of that expansion.
More Airlines, More Aircraft, Greater Pressure
Nigeria’s aviation market has continued to attract interest from existing and prospective operators. More aircraft can create additional capacity, increase route options and intensify competition for passengers.
However, the growth also creates pressure on the airport system. Operators need adequate parking positions and ramp space, while passengers require efficient terminals and reliable processing facilities.
Okonkwo said these issues must become part of the industry’s wider conversation.
“The more the merrier, no problem,” he said.
“But where are the infrastructures to accommodate aircrafts that these things, that will be flying?”
The question is central to the debate surrounding New AOCs. Regulatory approval alone does not create the physical capacity needed to operate additional aircraft efficiently.
Meanwhile, airports must also cope with existing traffic and operational disruptions. Any significant increase in aircraft movements could further expose weaknesses in ramp capacity and passenger-handling systems.
Okonkwo therefore called for engagement between airlines, regulators, airport authorities and other stakeholders. He said the industry should address infrastructure requirements before capacity constraints become a larger operational problem.
“These are the conversations the airline should be having with all those concerned,” he said.
The chairman’s position also reflects the financial realities of airline expansion. Aircraft acquisition and leasing require substantial capital, while operators continue to incur costs once aircraft enter their fleets.
Consequently, airlines need infrastructure capable of supporting the assets they finance and deploy. Otherwise, additional aircraft could face avoidable operational restrictions despite creating more theoretical capacity.
Okonkwo said Nigeria should therefore think about aviation growth as an interconnected system. Airline approvals, fleet expansion, airport capacity and passenger services must develop together.
He also urged stakeholders to begin the conversation early rather than waiting for congestion to worsen. In his view, the arrival of New AOCs could accelerate the industry’s growth, but infrastructure must be ready for that expansion.
Okonkwo’s warning does not amount to a call for fewer airlines. Rather, he is asking whether Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure can keep pace with the number of operators entering the market.
That distinction is important as new AOCs continue to attract attention. A larger airline market can deliver more seats and stronger competition, but its success depends on whether airports can handle the resulting growth.
He said the industry must engage the relevant authorities in planning for that expansion.
“I think I’m calling for us to start thinking about it, to start discussing it, to start engaging those who are involved for the interests of the industry,” he said.
The warning puts new AOCs at the centre of a broader aviation infrastructure debate. It raises questions about airport capacity, aircraft parking, ramp congestion and passenger handling as Nigeria prepares for more operators.
As additional airlines seek certification and more aircraft potentially enter the market, those pressures could become more visible. For Okonkwo, the priority is to ensure that infrastructure does not become the factor that limits the industry’s growth.
The message is therefore straightforward: Nigeria can welcome more airlines and more aircraft, but the airport system must be ready to support them. Without that preparation, the benefits expected from new AOCs could be weakened by infrastructure constraints.
