Violations: NCAA Sanctions Two Foreign, Three Domestic Airlines

Following violations of Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regulations, the agency has taken enforcement action against five airlines made up of two international and three domestic operators.

This was contained in a statement by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection to the NCAA, stating that the airlines were sanctioned for nonpayment of refunds within the stipulated time frame, and non-responsiveness to the NCAA’s directives.

Other breaches of the regulations included; missing luggage, manhandled luggage, short-landed baggage, and delayed and cancelled flights, among others.

Achimugu said that while airlines were not always to blame for flight disruptions, the NCAA regulations required them to take specific actions during such incidents, adding that non-compliance resulted in various sanctions.

While the NCAA did not disclose the names of the erring airlines, it was however gathered from sources close to the Agency that the airlines that were sanctioned included; Ethiopian Airlines, Air Maroc, Air Peace, Aero and Arik Airlines.

The NCAA also recently warned that it would impose sanctions on airlines that failed to issue refunds within the stipulated 14-day period for online ticket purchases or provide immediate cash refunds for tickets bought with cash.

It was also gathered that frequent disruptions during this holiday period have led to a rise in passenger complaints about delays and cancellations.

However, the NCAA attributed most of the cancellations to factors beyond the airlines’ control, saying; “We all know that this is harmattan season, so there is poor visibility. Flights must get cancelled”.

The NCAA stressed that; “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,” it said.

The NCAA said it would summon the CEOs of all airlines this week for a meeting regarding flight disruptions and regulatory violations.