NCAA intensifies oversight on airline operations amid rising passenger complaints

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has stepped up enforcement measures against five airlines two international and three domestic for breaches of aviation regulations. This development underscores the Authority’s commitment to addressing increasing consumer complaints during the holiday travel season.

Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the enforcement targets violations of Part 19 of the NCAA regulations. These include delayed refunds, mishandled baggage, poor responsiveness to directives, and issues surrounding flight disruptions such as delays and cancellations.

While Achimugu acknowledged that external factors, such as harmattan-induced poor visibility, have contributed to disruptions, he emphasized that airlines are obligated to fulfill certain responsibilities under the law. “We all know that 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 clarified.

The NCAA recently reiterated its policy mandating airlines to issue refunds within 14 days for online transactions or provide immediate refunds for cash purchases. Failure to comply attracts penalties.

Sources within the Authority identified the affected airlines as Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, and Air Peace. However, Achimugu declined to officially confirm their identities.

The NCAA has also announced plans to summon the chief executives of all airlines for a meeting this week. The agenda will focus on flight disruptions and strategies to ensure strict adherence to regulatory standards.

————

For Advertisement, Event Coverage/MC, Public Relations, Story/Article Publication, and other Media Services, kindly send an email to: cablenews24.com@gmail.com.

Or Kindly call: 08023535955

To stay updated with the latest news stories, kindly visit cablenews24.com… published by AAAANDREL GLOBAL SERVICES.