The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated enforcement action against two international airlines and three local carriers for running afoul of Part 19 of the NCAA regulations.
The infractions include non-payment of refunds to passengers within the stipulated time frame, non-responsiveness to the agency’s directives, missing luggage, manhandled luggage, short-landed baggage, delayed and canceled flights, amongst others.
The spokesman for NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu disclosed this in a statement.
He said that although the unnamed airlines were not always responsible for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations stipulate actions that airlines must take during disruptions; failure to comply attracts various levels of sanctions.
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 during the Christmas season have caused a surge in passengers’ complaints about delays and cancellations.
However, 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 cancelled. 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,” he said.
The director assured passengers that the NCAA would summon the chief executives off all the airlines to a meeting over flight disruptions and regulatory breaches.
