Dr Allen Onyema, Vice President, Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, agreed to all the resolutions at the meeting where operators unanimously upheld the sanctity of NCAR and the penalties therein. Onyema also Pledged to pay all the backlog of outstanding refunds to Air Peace passengers. NCAA annex, Friday, 27th December 2024
The exciting news that ricochet from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) annex at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, over the weekend, is still making some people awe struck on how feasible the much desirable changes, especially the notoriety of cancellations and delays will be achieved with immediate effect.
By the timing of the stakeholders’ parley, taking cognizance of the air around the season which hinges on love, the salient factors elicited as holding the aces to once again elevate aviation to its lofty heights curiously were identified as love, cooperation, collaboration and communication among players in the entire aviation value chain.
The Acting Director General Civil Aviation, Ag DGCA, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt Chris Ona Najomo, setting the tone for the business of the day announced that henceforth, it will not be business as usual in respect of schedule operations integrity.
Capt Najomo said as much as he appreciated occasional constraints which often culminated in delays, or cancellations, those unpalatable outcomes often from shoddy management of the bad situation he said, must henceforth be better managed than what currently obtained.
The DG said none of the consequences couldn’t have been better managed with far very less collateral damage to the airline and the passengers but when unprofessional approach is applied, the situation often gets messy as witnessed in the very few days to the festive season.
He advised the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) members to immediately trim their schedule to allow for an Aircraft On the Ground, AOG, to provide cover should the need arise.
Capt Najomo also emphasized the imperative of collaboration which often would drastically reduce the downtime for operators and the passengers.
However, the airlines complained that most airports in the country are sunset airports. And when there are plausible reasons for extension of their operations, most often the airports have been found not forthcoming.
The chief Operating Officer, COO, United Airlines, Mr Mazi Okonkwo said the Spring Alliance touted among some of the domestic operators had made several useful interventions to the delight of members.
Hence, the representative of Ibom Air mentioned specific instances the alliance had worked for Ibom Air when some of its passengers’ baggage were air fret by another airline to the desired destination.
Representative of the Director General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, Mr Sanwo-Olu, appealed to the flight crew to ensure they obtain weather report as a measure of safety and comfort for passengers.
Sanwo-Olu said it cost the pilot nothing to obtain a copy of the weather report before embarking on the voyage.
The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, represented by Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, allayed the fears of operators on all issues that were airport related.
She said the airports are constantly being developed to meet the needs of modern airline operations.
Kuku however emphasized that to succeed in managing a crisis, advanced or on-time communication becomes inevitable.
She said when there is failure in communication nothing can be achieved hence, the need for all players in the aviation value chain to collaborate, cooperate and to promptly communicate which are all conditions precedent to a successful and profitable air transport operations.
The Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, Dr Allen Onyema, pledged that the operators will comply with all agreed upon at the meeting.
He promised that his airline, Air Peace, where he is the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, CEO, would settle backlog of refunds which he acknowledged have been delayed beyond the stipulated timeline in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation, NCAR.
Onyema, also agreed that the AON members would not be averse to sanctions as enshrined in the NCAR against any airline find culpable of infractions that bother on consumers’ rights.
UNRULY PASSENGERS
The stakeholders unanimously agreed there will not be a seat for unruly passenger in the cabin while the airport managers also said there is no place for unruly passengers in all the aerodromes in the country.
Hence, it was agreed that any passenger established as unruly after thorough investigation shall be black listed and have his or her name in the no fly list and circulated among the airlines.
It was agreed all unruly passengers should be shamed, exposed and specially be dragged into the glare of the public through the multimedia so as to serve as deterrent to others thus stemming the development which fast raring its ugly head.
61 DAYS FLIGHTS STATISTICS: September & October 2024.
SEPTEMBER
Total flights:5291. Percentage of on-time departures: 52.5%
Total delays: 2434. Percentage of delayed flights: 46%
Total flights cancelled: 79. Percentage of cancellations: 1.5%
OCTOBER
Total flights: 5513. Percentage of on-time departures: 47%
Total no delayed:2791. Percentage of delayed flights: 50.6%
Total flights cancelled:111. Percentage: 2.01%
The above statistics present a grim picture which requires no less a drastic approach to stem the dangerous tide which, if allowed to persist, portends a death knell to air transport in the giant of Africa. An air that blows no one any good.
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