FG sanctions five airlines over flight cancellations, missing luggage
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has launched enforcement action against five airlines—two international and three domestic operators— for violating Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations of 2023.
According to the NCAA, the violations include failure to refund passengers within the stipulated timeframe, non-responsiveness to the authority’s directives, incidents of missing or mishandled luggage, short-landed baggage, and issues related to flight delays and cancellations.
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, confirmed the action to journalists on Tuesday.
While Achimugu did not disclose the names of the airlines involved, he explained that although airlines are not always at fault for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations clearly mandate specific actions airlines must take in such instances. Failure to adhere to these directives results in varying penalties.
The director noted an increase in passenger complaints regarding delays and cancellations during the festive season, attributing some disruptions to harmattan-related poor visibility. “We all know that this is harmattan season, so there is poor visibility. Flights must be cancelled in such cases. This is force majeure, and the airlines do not owe passengers anything in those instances,” Achimugu said.
He clarified that the enforcement actions being initiated were for cases where the airline was deemed to have been at fault, with more actions expected to follow.
Additionally, Achimugu announced that the NCAA would summon the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all airlines this week for a meeting to address flight disruptions and regulatory breaches.
On December 10, the NCAA issued a statement confirming that it would sanction airlines for delayed ticket refunds. The authority reiterated that airlines must strictly adhere to the refund timelines set out under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations of 2023, which aim to protect passenger rights.
The NCAA further specified that refunds for cash purchases must be made immediately and in cash, while refunds for electronic payments, including mobile apps and internet banking, must be completed within 14 days.
