The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Tuesday, said it has commenced the enforcement of sanctions against five airlines (two international and three domestic operators) for various violations of Part 19 of the NCAA regulations.
The Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the violations include the nonpayment of refunds within the stipulated time frame, non-responsiveness to the NCAA’s directives, passengers’ missing luggage, and delayed and canceled flights, amongst others.
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Achimugu, who did not disclose the operators affected, said that though airlines are not always responsible for flight disruptions, the NCAA’s regulations stipulate actions that airlines must take during disruptions, and the failure to comply would attract various levels of sanctions.
The Authority recently warned that it will sanction any airline that fails to make refunds within the stipulated time frame of 14 days for online ticket purchases and immediate cash refunds for tickets purchased by cash.
Though the incessant disruptions this yuletide has caused a surge in complaints from passengers about delays and cancellations, Achimugu staunchly defended the airlines.
He said, “We all know that this is the harmattan season, so there is poor visibility and 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.”
The director also assured that the Authority will be summoning the Chief Executive Officers of all airlines this week to a meeting over flight disruptions and regulatory breaches.
During a road show last month, the NCAA said international and domestic airlines will pay a fine of $170 and N10,000, respectively, for delaying passengers’ luggage. Achimugu said the fines are in compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs), which is part of the measures to guide against delayed luggage.
He said any incidence of 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.