Dare Babalola
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is cracking down on domestic airlines, warning them to address persistent flight delays and improve passenger care or face sanctions.
This was made known by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, in a statement posted on X on Tuesday.
The warning followed an enforcement visit by NCAA officials to the Abuja operations of three domestic airlines — Xejet, Rano Air and United Nigeria Airlines — on Monday.
Achimugu said the authority observed that many airlines were not providing timely and honest information to passengers during flight delays and were deliberately evading the provision of light refreshments after two hours.
He described the practice as unacceptable, stressing that airlines must comply with consumer protection provisions, particularly during the peak December travel period when disruptions are common.
“While we understand the unique challenges of December per flight disruptions, airlines must provide the necessary care for passengers at a time like this,” he said.
According to him, the NCAA has issued an ultimatum to airlines, noting that the warning is not limited to the three operators visited.
“We have observed that most airlines do not provide timely, honest information, and that they try to evade the provision of light refreshments two hours into a delay, as stipulated by Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
“The NCAA finds this unacceptable and has given an ultimatum to the airlines. We are watching, and action will be taken where necessary,” Achimugu said.
The inspections, he said, were part of efforts to ensure airline compliance with consumer protection standards, particularly during periods of high passenger traffic.
