NCAA Sanctions Five Airlines Due To Cancelled Flights, Others

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken enforcement measures against five airlines—two international and three domestic—for breaching Part 19 of the NCAA regulations.

The infractions involve delayed refunds beyond the prescribed timeframe, failure to adhere to NCAA directives, issues with missing or mishandled luggage, short-landed baggage, and instances of delayed or canceled flights, among other concerns.

Michael Achimugu, a spokesperson for the NCAA, revealed this to journalists on Tuesday at the Authority’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.

He emphasized that while airlines may not always be at fault for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations mandate specific actions they must undertake in such cases. Non-compliance results in various penalties.

Recall that the Authority recently warned that it will 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 that this is harmattan season, so there is poor visibility. Flights must get canceled. 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,” the spokesman explained.

He also assured that the Authority will be summoning the chief executives of all airlines this week to a meeting over flight disruptions and regulatory breaches.

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