The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to interface with Virgin Atlantic Airline to ensure compensation for passengers allegedly denied refreshment on its flight.
The resolution followed a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Rotimi Agunsoye (APC-Lagos) at plenary on Tuesday.
Moving the motion earlier Agunsoye said that Virgin Atlantic was one of the International Airline Service Providers operating in Nigeria with a regular schedule from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos to Heathrow Airport, London.
“On Aug. 9, 2021, the Virgin Atlantic Flight VS0412 conveyed passengers from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to Heathrow Airport, London and throughout the flight no refreshment was served to passengers including children, leaving them famished and weak by the time they arrived at their destination.
“Concerned that although the lack of refreshment was partly due to industrial action in Lagos, the management of the Airline neither offered any explanations nor expressed empathy or any form of compensation for the gross inconveniences to the passengers.
“There is the need to ensure that all flight services operating locally and internationally from Nigerian Airports observe international best practices for optimum passenger satisfaction,” he said.
The house urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation as well as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure that all local and international flight services operating in Nigerian Airports complied with international best practices.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, mandated the Committee on Aviation to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
