The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has sanctioned five airlines for failing to meet regulatory requirements regarding flight disruptions, refunds, and baggage handling.
Two international and three domestic carriers have been penalized for issues such as delayed and canceled flights, unresponsive behavior to NCAA directives, and problems with lost or mishandled luggage.
A NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu stated that while weather conditions like the harmattan season can cause flight cancellations, airlines are still obligated to follow specific rules during disruptions.
The authority had previously warned airlines to issue refunds within 14 days for online ticket purchases and to provide immediate cash refunds for tickets bought in person.
The recent spike in passenger complaints due to flight cancellations during the festive season prompted the enforcement of sanctions.
“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,” the spokesman explained.
The NCAA also plans to meet with airline CEOs this week to address these ongoing challenges and regulatory breaches.
Sources reveal that Ethiopian Airways, Royal Maroc Airways, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, and Air Peace are among the carriers affected by the penalties.
Although the specific sanctions imposed on the airlines have not been disclosed, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) typically enforces penalties that could include fines, operational restrictions, and directives for airlines to correct the violations.