NCAA sanctions five airlines over flight cancellations and missing luggage

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken enforcement action against five airlines—two international and three domestic operators—for violations of Part 19 of NCAA Regulations 2023. These breaches include failing to refund passengers within the stipulated timeframe, disregarding directives from the authority, mishandling luggage, issues with short-landed baggage, and problems related to flight delays and cancellations.

Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, confirmed the development on Tuesday but declined to disclose the names of the sanctioned airlines. Achimugu explained that while airlines are not always at fault for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations mandate specific actions they must undertake during such instances. Failure to comply with these directives results in penalties of varying severity.

Achimugu highlighted an uptick in passenger complaints about delays and cancellations, particularly during the festive season, with some disruptions attributed to harmattan-induced poor visibility.

“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 NCAA plans to summon the chief executive officers (CEOs) of all airlines this week for a meeting to address flight disruptions and regulatory breaches.

Earlier, on December 10, the NCAA announced its intent to sanction airlines for delayed ticket refunds. Under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, airlines are required to strictly adhere to refund timelines to protect passenger rights. Refunds for cash purchases must be made immediately and in cash, while electronic payments, including mobile apps and internet banking, must be refunded within 14 days.