The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated enforcement actions against two international and three domestic airlines for violations of Part 19 of its regulations, which govern passenger rights and airline obligations.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, disclosed that the affected airlines were found culpable of various infractions, including nonpayment of refunds, non-responsiveness to directives, and issues related to missing, manhandled, and short-landed luggage.
Other violations cited include flight delays and cancellations, all of which fall under Part 19 of NCAA’s regulations.
Achimugu, however, did not name the airlines involved in the violations.
“Although airlines are not always responsible for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations stipulate actions they must take when these occur. Failure to comply attracts various levels of sanctions,” he said.
Achimugu also highlighted NCAA’s warning to airlines regarding refunds, emphasizing that refunds for tickets purchased online must be paid within 14 days, while cash refunds must be made immediately.
He noted that complaints from passengers have surged during the Yuletide season, largely due to delays and cancellations caused by harmattan-related poor visibility, which is classified as a force majeure.
“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,” he explained.
However, Achimugu clarified that the enforcement actions being taken are targeted at cases where the airlines are deemed to be at fault.
“The enforcement we are initiating today is on cases where the airline is deemed to have been at fault. More will come,” he said.
The NCAA has assured passengers that it is prioritizing their rights and will soon summon the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all airlines for a meeting to address flight disruptions and compliance with regulatory requirements.
