*** Mr Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, said “There are instances the airlines do not owe passengers anything”
*** Two international airlines, and three domestic operators, were purportedly caught on the wrong side of the Nigerian Air Transport sacred book- the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCAR 2023
*** The air transport regulatory body, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has resolved this time around, to allow the law to run its full course without minding whose ox will be gored.
*** The airline operators are reminded that justice delayed tantamount to justice denied
Two international airlines and three domestic ones have allowed the push on infractions bordering on passengers’ rights to come to a shove hence, the regulatory authority is irrevocably determined to apply the spirit and the letters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCAR 2023, to run its full course for justice not only to be done, but for equity, fairness and justice to be seen to have been done.
Hence, the authority seems resolved not to be adversely affected by the air of Christmas in this season to allow brazen infractions of passengers’ rights to fizzle out into the wind in the guise of Christmas love or Christmas celebration, and compassion to the detriment of passengers who often part with their hard earn money and without commensurate service from those affected five airlines, among others.
According to the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Michael Achimugu, he could not in good conscience allow justice to linger indefinitely against proven infractions on either the passengers’ or the airlines’ side.
He noted that the NCAR enforcement initiated on the Christmas eve, Tuesday, was about matters in which the airlines were alleged to have erred on matters such as protracted delay on several refunds that are long overdue to the passengers.
Achimugu highlighted some of the purported violations of Part 19 of the NCAR such as, “nonpayment of refund within the stipulated time, non-responsive to the NCAA’s directives, failure severally to retrieve missing luggage, mishandling of luggage, short-landed baggage, delayed and cancelled flights, amongst others
He affirmed, while not holding brief for the airlines that they are not always responsible for flight disruptions yet, the NCAR stipulates actions that airlines should take whenever there is a disruption.
He also added that in the event of failure, and for whatever reason for its occurrence, the regulation imposes some forms of responsibility which the airlines should comply with in order to be seen to have fulfilled all righteousness.
Recall that the NCAA recently warned that it would initiate sanctions if airlines failed to pay refunds within the stipulated time of fourteen days for online ticket purchases and immediate cash refunds for tickets purchased by cash.
Achimugu further explained that the incessant disruptions this yuletide season were responsible for the surge in passengers’ complaints about delays and cancellations.
However, he averred that the present harmattan season caused reduced visibility occasioned by the harmattan haze. He added that in such and similar conditions, “the airlines do not owe passengers anything in those instances”, Achimugu explained.
Our often reliable source conjectured that the two international airlines in the eye of the storm are Ethiopian Airways and Royal Maroc Airways. The domestic operators said to be most likely culpable are Arik Air, Aero Contractors, and Air Peace.
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