The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed Turkish Airlines to suspend its operations into Nigeria until it is ready to operate into the country with the right aircraft size.
The regulatory agency observed that the airline has in recent time left behind passengers’ check-in luggage, a situation which has caused huge discomfort to its passengers
The NCAA, in a letter, NCAA/ DG/12/16/60, directed to the airline’s country manager, dated December 11, 2019, and signed by the acting director-general, Capt. Abdullahi Sidi, and obtained by our correspondent, said that the baggage backlog had been ongoing for two weeks.
According to the letter, the incessant baggage delays had caused crisis followed by mob actions as the airline arrives without 85 percent of passengers’ baggage.
The letter reads in part: “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) wishes to extend its compliments to Turkish Airlines and also express its serious displeasure about the recent cases of not bringing passengers into Nigeria together with their checked-in baggage.
“These incidents, which have been going on for two weeks, have become so bad that the most recent flight arrived without 85% of passengers’ baggage onboard.
“Our Airport Authority has been facing serious crises controlling the passengers at the airport whenever they arrive without their baggage.
“This issue has made passengers to carry out several mob actions at our airport and it is a great threat to our airport facilities.”
“In view of all these, and the series of meetings held with Turkish Airlines personnel, which did not yield any solution to the problem, the NCAA is therefore left with no option than to direct Turkish Airline to suspend its operations into Nigeria until such a time when the airline is ready to operate with the right size of aircraft that can transport all passengers with their baggage at the same time.
“If no remedial action is carried out by your airline, this suspension shall be effective from the 16th December, 2019.”
