The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has instructed domestic airline operators to add a special needs option to their online and offline ticket booking systems for passengers living with disabilities and Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRMs).
This was disclosed by Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s spokesperson, in a statement issued on Friday, January 30, 2026. According to the statement, airline operators must add a compulsory feature for special needs or assistance requests to their reservation systems within one week, as non-compliance may result in regulatory penalties.
Achimugu stated that the request option would enable passengers to seek assistance before completing the ticket purchase process, to enhance seamless airline ticketing.
“The Authority recalls its earlier correspondence with Reference No. NCAA/CPD/585/1/22 dated 13 April 2022, which directed all domestic airlines to conspicuously place on their online ticket reservation platforms a mandatory field, box, or column through which passengers may request assistance or give advance notice of special needs before ticket purchase.
“This requirement is further reinforced by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023, Part 19.12.3.1, which mandates that during reservation, airlines, travel agents, and tour operators shall:
“Provide travellers the opportunity to request assistance at the point of booking across all ticket sales channels, including online platforms and telephone reservations
“Mandatorily include on ticket portals a designated field or column through which persons with disabilities or their assistants may request special needs assistance while booking or purchasing flight tickets
“Actively enquire whether any passenger within a booking party may require assistance at the airport and/or during flight operations.”
