The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed sanctions on five airlines—comprising two international and three domestic operators—for violating passenger rights and breaching Part 19 of its regulations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, revealed that the penalties were imposed for various infractions, including nonpayment of refunds within the stipulated timeframe, non-compliance with directives, mishandling of luggage, and flight delays or cancellations.
“While airlines are not always to blame for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations require them to take specific actions during such incidents, and non-compliance results in various sanctions,” Achimugu said.
The regulatory authority reiterated its commitment to protecting passengers’ rights, emphasizing the 14-day refund policy for online ticket purchases and the immediate refund requirement for tickets bought with cash.
Acknowledging the seasonal challenges posed by the harmattan, Achimugu clarified that airlines are not culpable for cancellations due to poor visibility—a force majeure event.
However, he stressed that the enforcement actions being implemented were solely in cases where airlines were found at fault.
“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,” he stated.
Achimugu also disclosed that the NCAA is set to meet with the Chief Executive Officers of all airlines later this week to address recurring issues of flight disruptions and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
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