The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said it would soon commence public sensitisation to further enlighten air travellers in case of flight delays or cancellations by airlines.
Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of NCAA made this disclosure with aviation journalists in Lagos on Sunday.
Nuhu said the authority would in the coming weeks commence information drive to passengers, which would enable them to respond appropriately in case their rights were trampled upon by airlines.
The director-general, however, regretted that most passengers don’t report to NCAA whenever their rights were trampled upon by the airlines.
He noted that the law on 100 per cent refund on air tickets in case of three hours delay was not new to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR).
The director-general maintained that the law was gazetted by the Federal Government and had been in existence since 2015.
Nuhu said the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, noted that he was just referring to NCAA in his statement but before the amendment to the regulation, airlines were supposed to pay full compensation to air travellers the moment their flight is delayed for two hours.
The NCAA DG, however, said during the review, the operators complained that the two hours was too short then and it was extended to three hours but if the consumers don’t complain, how can we know?
Nuhu said all airlines were given AOCs based on the fact that they would comply with the regulations, adding that during its surveillance, if it found out that they don’t comply appropriately, NCAA would sanction, accordingly.
The director-general, said on the issue of force majeure, NCAA cannot sanction such airline because it was an act of nature and even the law recognized it.
“The NCAR 2015 Section 19.6.1.1 as amended indicated that for domestic flights, when an airline reasonably expects a flight to be delayed beyond its scheduled time of departure, it would provide the passengers with reason(s) for the delay within 30 minutes after the scheduled departure time.
“It states that after two hours, refreshments as specified in section 19.10.1 (i) and telephone calls, SMS and e-mails as specified in section 19.10.2; while beyond three hours, reimbursement as specified in Section 19.9.1(i) ; and
“In addition, (iii) at a time beyond 10p.m till 4a.m, or at a time when the airport was closed at the point of departure or final destination, the assistance specified in sections 19.10.1 (iii) and 19.10.1(iv) hotel accommodation and transport.
“For international flights, the regulation said that when an operating air carrier reasonably expects a flight to be delayed beyond its scheduled time of departure it would provide to the passengers between two and four hours, compensation as specified in sections 19.8.1
“(i) and telephone calls, SMS, e-mails as specified in 19.10.2. Besides, for a flight that is delayed for more than four hours, meal as specified in 19.10.1 (ii) and telephone calls, SMS, e-mails as specified in 19.10.2;
“(iii) When the reasonably expected time of departure is at least six hours after the time of departure previously announced, the hotel accommodation assistance as specified in sections 19.10.1 (iii) and transport assistance as specified in 19.10.1,” he said.
Nuhu said on compensation, the regulation said passengers would receive at least 25 per cent of the fares or passenger ticket price for all flights within Nigeria and 30 per cent of the passenger ticket price for all international flights.
