NCAA warns airlines against delaying passengers
By Damilare Adeleye
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued warning to airlines against keeping passengers stranded for hours under false assurances.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, the NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, charged airlines’ operators to provide accurate and timely information to travellers on their journey.
“Airlines should, please, ensure to let passengers know the true reasons for lengthy delays, especially when it is a fueling issue,” the statement read.
“Do not keep people waiting in false hopes from morning until late night, only to either cancel or fly at an hour where safety at the destination city is not guaranteed.
“Everybody is affected by this avoidable situation; top government officials. Visa interview applicants. Students. Business people. Etc.”
Achimugu noted that the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, has expressed concerns over the growing trend, stressing that the regulatory body would intensify oversight of airline operations.
“The DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo, has expressed concerns about this and ordered enhanced monitoring of flight operations by the CPOs,” he said.
“The challenges may not be the fault of the airlines sometimes, but it is the responsibility of the operator to mitigate the inconvenience of paying passengers by letting them make the choice to book another flight to prevent missing out on extremely important events,” Achimugu stated.
He warned airlines against giving inaccurate reasons for delays or making unrealistic departure announcements.
“This is a no-brainer. Do not say, 'Bird strike' if the problem is fuel. Do not say, 'We will take off in 30 minutes,' if you are not sure of fueling.
“Do not announce a 20 minute delay if the operating aircraft is not on ground and has no ETA yet. If you keep passengers up to 10pm, provide them HOTAC.”
It is understood that there were growing complaints from air travellers across Nigeria over prolonged delays, last-minute cancellations, and poor communication from domestic airlines. This trend has often sparked concerns about passenger rights and regulatory enforcement in the country’s aviation sector.