NCAA Enforces Sanctions Against Five Airlines for Regulatory Breaches

NCAA Enforces Sanctions Against Five Airlines for Regulatory Breaches

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated enforcement actions against five airlines, comprising two international carriers and three domestic operators, for contravening provisions of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations.

The violations include non-payment of refunds within the stipulated timeframe, failure to adhere to NCAA directives, issues with missing and manhandled luggage, short-landed baggage, and persistent delays and cancellations.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, disclosed this development on Tuesday, stating that the enforcement aligns with the Authority’s commitment to upholding passenger rights and ensuring regulatory compliance within the aviation sector.

“Although airlines are not always responsible for flight disruptions, our regulations clearly outline the actions they must take when such disruptions occur. Failure to comply attracts varying levels of sanctions,” Mr. Achimugu explained.

This announcement comes in the wake of heightened complaints from passengers during the festive season, with delays and cancellations becoming widespread.

While the Authority attributed many disruptions to weather-related challenges, particularly poor visibility due to the harmattan season, he clarified that the sanctions were targeted at cases where airlines were found to be at fault.

“The harmattan season naturally causes poor visibility, which leads to flight cancellations. This is categorised as force majeure, and airlines are not obligated to compensate passengers in such instances. However, today’s enforcement actions address issues where the airlines were clearly at fault. More actions are expected,” he added.

Recent warnings from the NCAA had underscored the Authority’s intent to penalise airlines failing to refund passengers within the stipulated timelines – 14 days for online ticket purchases and immediate refunds for cash transactions.

While the agency refrained from naming the affected airlines, sources within the NCAA have revealed that the sanctions target Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, and Air Peace.

The NCAA has further indicated plans to convene a meeting with the Chief Executive Officers of all airlines this week to address ongoing flight disruptions and compliance lapses.

Tersoo Agber

Journalist, Travel enthusiast, PR consultant, Content manager/editor, Online publisher.