NCAA Warns Airlines Against Breaching Montreal Convention Provisions on Baggage Compensation
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a strong warning to all airline operators in the country, particularly domestic carriers, to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Montreal Convention of 1999 as domesticated under the Civil Aviation Act (CAA) 2022, or face severe sanctions.
In a post on its official Facebook page, the Authority reminded airlines that Nigeria is a signatory to the Montreal Convention, an international treaty designed to modernise and unify the rules governing international air travel. The Convention specifically outlines airline liability concerning passenger injury or death, baggage and cargo loss or damage, and flight delays.
According to the NCAA, these provisions have been fully incorporated into the CAA 2022, making compliance mandatory for all operators within the country.
It cautioned domestic airlines that continue to rely on outdated legal frameworks such as the Warsaw Convention, or use baggage weight as the basis for compensation in baggage-related claims, describing such practices as unacceptable under current regulations.
The Authority emphasised that the CAA 2022 and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 remain sacrosanct, and operators must conduct their business in line with the legal instruments.
“Any airline that fails to apply the proper laws in dealing with baggage issues will be heavily penalised going forward,” the NCAA stated firmly.
The warning underscores the NCAA’s renewed commitment to protecting passengers’ rights and ensuring that airline operators in Nigeria conform to globally accepted aviation standards.
The move is part of the Authority’s broader efforts to strengthen regulatory enforcement, improve consumer confidence, and align Nigeria’s aviation industry with international best practices.
