The Federal Government has directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to impose sanctions on any airline that cancels or delays flights without valid justification.
This directive was issued by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, in a statement posted on X on Monday.
Achimugu warned that the practice of airline staff abandoning passengers and leaving NCAA Consumer Protection officers to handle frustrated travelers will no longer be accepted.
“While one understands the challenges that operators face in our peculiar operating environment, whoever ventures into this business must do it well. We must not always choose the easy way out. Don’t you want to be called ‘world class’?
“Don’t you want to compete at the highest level? If not for the sake of passengers who trust you to fly them safely, then at least for your own pride,” Achimugu said.
According to him, exposing NCAA officials to unnecessary risk while supporting airlines and protecting passengers’ rights was unacceptable.
“For infractions that are sanctionable, the authority will apply the fullest measures possible. We will not abandon the letters of our regulations.
“The Federal Government has instructed that airlines be named and shamed by the NCAA. While not all disruptions are the fault of airlines, operators must comply with the regulations whenever there is a disruption,” he added.
Achimugu confirmed that, in line with directives from the Federal Government and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the “naming and shaming” of erring airlines will commence immediately.
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