Rights Breach: NCAA Sanctions Ethiopian Airlines, Air Peace, Aero, Others

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced sanctions against five airlines for breaching the rights of air passengers.

The NCAA initiated the enforcement action against the five airlines (two international and three domestic operators) for violations of Part 19 of the NCAA regulations.

The airlines violated NCAA rules, including not paying refunds within the stipulated time frame, not responding to the NCAA’s directives, missing luggage, manhandled luggage, short-landed baggage, and delayed and cancelled flights.

The director of public affairs and consumer protection (NCAA), Michael Achimugu disclosed this while speaking to journalists at the corporate headquarters of the Authority in Abuja on Tuesday.

While Achimugu did not disclose the airlines affected by the sanctions, sources close to the Authority disclosed that they are Ethiopian Airways, Royal Maroc Airlines, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, and Air Peace.

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He said that although airlines are not always responsible for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations stipulate actions that airlines must take during disruptions and the failure to comply attracts various sanctions.

The Authority had recently warned that it would initiate sanctions if airlines fail to pay refunds within the stipulated time frame of 14 days for online ticket purchases and immediate cash refunds for tickets purchased by cash.

The incessant disruptions this yuletide has caused a surge in passengers’ complaints about delays and cancellations. Achimugu defended the airlines for most of the cancellations.

“We all know 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 explained.

Achimugu also assured that the Authority would summon the chief executive officers of all airlines this week to discuss flight disruptions and regulatory breaches.