- Okeke Chuba Henry (PhD) & Abdulkarim Rukayyat
- DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17995802
- GAS Journal of Engineering and Technology (GASJET)
The
aviation industry in Nigerian lags in adopting Blockchain, Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Big Data Analytics, despite their international
established benefits in reduction in cost, security and operational efficiency
(IATA, 2022). This research examined how these innovative technologies can optimize
Nigeria’s aviation sector, addressing predictive maintenance, cargo tracking,
and critical gaps in passenger processing.
The
research adopted a mixed method study design involving both quantitative and
qualitative data for evaluating the impact of digital transformation
technologies (Blockchain, AI, and Big Data Analytics) on operational efficiency
in the Nigerian aviation industry. The types of data used are primary (surveys,
interviews) and secondary (case study, industry report) data.
The
study evaluated the present digital adoption levels in Nigeria aviation sector,
analyzed case studies from advanced aviation markets in Dubai, and Singapore
and recommended a framework for integrating these innovative technologies into
Nigeria’s aviation sector operations. The quantitative data were analyzed using
ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Independent T-tests to assess the impact of
Blockchain, AI, and Big Data Analytics on operational efficiency while
descriptive tools such as frequencies and percentages were used in analyzing
the respondent’s characteristics.
The study disclosed moderate adoption of AI and big data analytics, low adoption of blockchain, and strong evidence that digital technologies notably enhance operational efficiency, decrease costs, and optimize revenue. The major challenges are regulatory gaps, funding and deficits in infrastructure. The level of Digital Technology adoption shows that big data analytics is the most adopted technology with mean score of 3.45 while block chain adoption remains low across stakeholders with mean score of 2.41. The research concludes that, digital transformation is no longer voluntary for Nigeria’s aviation industry. The research recommend investment in smart airport infrastructure and development of a National Aviation Digital Transformation Policies and regulatory sandboxes for aviation technologies.
