Dare Babalola
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has restated that air travellers in Nigeria are legally entitled to basic welfare support such as meals, communication assistance, and, where necessary, hotel accommodation when flights are delayed or cancelled.
Speaking during an interview on The Morning Brief on Channels Television on Tuesday, the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, explained that these obligations form part of the consumer protection standards expected from airlines operating in the country.
He noted that passengers should not be left unattended when flight disruptions occur, especially during prolonged waiting periods at airports.
Ijagwu said, “When there is a delay, passengers are supposed to be given refreshments. If the delay continues for several hours, assistance such as airtime should also be provided because passengers may be stranded and unable to communicate easily.”
He added that the duty of care owed by airlines increases depending on how long passengers are affected and the nature of the disruption.
According to him, extended delays and sudden cancellations require more responsibility from airlines, including possible transport arrangements and accommodation support for affected travellers.
“In cases where flights are eventually cancelled after passengers have already waited for long hours, additional support becomes necessary,” he said.
Ijagwu added, “Even outside strict legal interpretation, reasonable care demands that passengers should not be abandoned in such situations.”
Ijagwu further explained that in other countries, airlines typically provide transport from airports to city centres and arrange hotel accommodation where overnight stays become unavoidable due to cancellations.
He stressed that each incident is assessed based on its specific facts, including waiting time, communication provided, and steps taken by the airline to mitigate inconvenience.
“Every situation must be considered on its own merit. We look at how long passengers were delayed and what assistance, if any, was offered before determining compliance or violation,” he added.
The FCCPC’s clarification comes amid growing frustration from air travellers over repeated delays, last-minute schedule changes, and cancellations across major airports in Nigeria.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, passengers were recently left stranded for hours after multiple flight rescheduling incidents, with many reporting a lack of transport or accommodation support from airlines.
Industry observers have linked the persistent disruptions to operational challenges facing domestic carriers, particularly the rising cost and limited availability of aviation fuel (Jet A1).
The Airline Operators of Nigeria had earlier raised concerns over the situation, warning that fuel prices had increased sharply in recent weeks, placing severe pressure on airline operations.
In response to the broader aviation challenges, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has suggested that adjustments in airfares may become necessary to sustain local airlines.
Airline operators, on their part, maintain that current ticket revenues are insufficient to cover escalating operational expenses, cautioning that continued pressure on the sector could further affect flight schedules nationwide.
