FLIGHT DISPATCH STRATEGY AND DELIVERY PERFORMANCE OF AVIATION FIRMS IN AKWA-IBOM AND RIVERS STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Our study centered on flight dispatch strategy and delivery performance of aviation firms in Akwa Ibom and Rivers State. The study adopted correlational design, two research and two hypotheses guided the study. The entire twenty-two registered aviation firms in Rivers and Akwa Ibom State were covered involving census study, with questionnaire having reliability index of 0.92 as major instrument for data collection. Data collected were analyzed via percentage and frequency analysis, mean, standard deviation, and the hypotheses tested using Spearman Rank Order Correlation (rho) with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0.  In course of the study it was found and held that there is a significant relationship between flight reliability and speedy delivery of aviation firms in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers State of Nigeria. There is a significant relationship between baggage handling and order accuracy of aviation firms in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers State of Nigeria. Consequently, it was recommended that aviation firms pay strict attention to customer service providing quality and reliable service, good handling of cargo to sustain customer satisfaction and patronage. Regulatory bodies like the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should establish performance benchmarks and enforce time-based service-level agreements to keep airlines accountable. Training and capacity-building for staff should be enforced, as to handle human delay, a significant factor in operational slowness. In essence, speedy delivery should not be viewed in isolation but as a composite measure of planning, execution, and organizational discipline, which when effectively managed, would boosts overall delivery performance and positions Nigerian aviation firms as reliable service providers on both local and international routes.