NCAA Set To Sanction 5 Airlines Over Flight Delays & Cancellations ─ Says Official

ISOLA MOSES 

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, in compliance with Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, says it is set to impose fines of $170 and N10,000 on foreign and local airlines, respectively for delayed air passengers’ luggage as a first measure to protect consumers in the country’s aviation space. 

Sequel to reported cases of regulatory infractions by airlines, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has disclosed its readiness to sanction about five airlines, including foreign carriers, over violations of consumer rights and the Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).

Mr. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, has described violations as abuses of air travellers’ rights, including non-payment of refunds within the stipulated time frame, non-responsiveness to the NCAA’s directives, missing luggage, manhandled luggage, short-landed baggage, delayed and canceled flights, amongst others.

ConsumerConnect reports there have been numerous disruptions to flights, especially in the Yuletide season with most of the domestic operators delaying or cancelling their flights.

It is recalled Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FciArb. (UK), Honourable Minister Aviation and Aerospace Development, earlier 2024, had directed the NCAA to apply regulatory measures against any airlines committing infractions against air travellers in the country.

Keyamo, in June this year, also inaugurated an eight-member ministerial task force committee on “illegal private chartered operations and related matters” in the Nigerian aviation industry.

The Minister noted the Committee was mandated to address alleged money laundering, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities by private jet operators in Nigeria.

“To stem the practice of illegal chartered operations, including illicit activities raising security and safety concerns culminating in significant financial losses to the Federal Government, Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FciArb. (UK), has inaugurated a Ministerial Task Force Committee on illegal private chartered operations and related matters,” the agency stated.

Imposition of $170 and N10,000 fines on foreign, local airlines

Achimugu, November 2024, also stated the NCAA affirmed that it would implement to the letter the Part 19 of the NCARs with a view to guarding against passengers’ delayed luggage and other violations by airlines in the country.

It was gathered that in compliance with the NCARs, the aviation regulatory agency is imposing fines of $170 and N10,000 on foreign and local airlines, respectively for delayed passengers’ luggage as a first measure.

According to the aviation sector regulatory agency, such delayed luggage must be delivered to the affected passenger on international routes within 21 days, while for local flights, it must be delivered within seven days.

The NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection further assured that the regulatory agency would implement the sanctions to the letter, regretting that for a very long time, most of the air travellers were unaware of their rights, which made the airlines continue to violate their rights in Nigeria, reports said.

“The little things about the regulations that the passengers need to know, for instance, if you arrive at an airport and your luggage didn’t arrive with you, most passengers do not know that they have a right to demand compensation from the airlines.

“If it is a domestic flight, you can walk to the airline’s counter to demand for your N10,000 for not bringing your bag with you. For international flights, it is $170,” Achimugu stated.

He also noted that several passengers do not know this thing, but said “we are bringing an end to that circle of ignorance. We are bringing the regulations to Nigerians in an exciting manner.”

A close source was quoted to have revealed that on Tuesday, two unnamed international and three domestic operators were caught for various infractions.

However, Achimugu said that although airlines were not always responsible for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations yet stipulated actions that airlines must take during such disruptions.

Failure to comply attracts various degrees of sanctions, he averred.

The top official also stated: “We all know that this is harmattan season; so there is poor visibility.

“Flights must get cancelled. This is force majeure and the airlines do not owe passengers anything in those instances.

“The enforcement we are initiating today is on cases where the airline is deemed to have been at fault. More will come.”

Achimugu as well disclosed the NCAA would summon the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the defaulting airlines within the week for a meeting with the Management on their said regulatory breaches.