The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has taken enforcement action against five airlines, comprising two international and three domestic operators, for breaching provisions of Part 19 of its regulations.
The sanctions were announced in a statement by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the airlines were penalized for offenses including delayed and canceled flights, mishandling of passenger baggage, non-responsiveness to directives, and failure to issue refunds within the stipulated timelines.
“While airlines are not always responsible for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations mandate them to take certain actions when such incidents occur. Non-compliance attracts varying levels of sanctions,” Achimugu said.
The NCAA emphasized that airlines must issue refunds within 14 days for tickets purchased online and provide immediate cash refunds for cash purchases, warning that non-adherence will not be tolerated.
The surge in passenger complaints during the holiday season prompted the Authority’s latest action. Many travelers expressed frustration over repeated delays and cancellations. However, Achimugu clarified that some disruptions were caused by factors outside the airlines’ control.
“This harmattan season brings poor visibility, which necessitates flight cancellations. Such situations, classified as force majeure, exempt airlines from compensating passengers,” he explained.
He added that the current enforcement measures focus on cases where the airlines were directly at fault. “This is just the beginning; more actions will follow,” he noted.
The NCAA also disclosed plans to summon the chief executive officers of all airlines for a meeting this week to address flight disruptions and compliance with aviation regulations.
