The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has condemned the recent attack by some unruly passengers on staff of Max Air and the wanton destruction of the airline’s properties due to a flight delay.
The AON President, Dr Yunusa Abdulmunaf, made this known in a statement by Friday in Lagos.
The Business intelligence (TBI Africa) reports that Part 17.92.1 of the Nig. CARs 2012, Vol. II states that: “Any passenger who becomes unruly at the airport terminal or on board an Aircraft commits an offence.”
Part 17.92.3 states further that: “Where any passenger becomes unruly on board an aircraft or at the terminal building, the aircraft commander or airport authority shall take necessary measures including restraint where necessary.
Abdulmunaf said the unfortunate development had further heightens its deepest concern over the increasingly deplorable state of security and the rising threat to the lives of airline staff and their properties at the airports.
The president said the airport vicinity was a sensitive and sacrosanct environment where people were not allowed to behave in callous and uncontrollable manner.
He condemned a situation where passengers were allowed to have access into restricted areas of the airport and attack airline staff.
Abdulmunaf added that the passengers would prevent a plane from departing to other destinations because a particular flight was delayed or cancelled puts the country in a bad light in the international community.
The president noted that issues of delay or cancellation could be addressed in a civil manner without resorting to violence.
“The unruly passengers that went after Max Air and destroyed the computer reservation systems further exacerbated the problem for other passengers going to other destinations. Such acts are completely unacceptable.
“AON understands the frustrations whenever a flight is delayed or cancelled and we apologise to passengers on behalf of airlines for such delays or cancellations.
“It is, however, instructive to note that delays happen worldwide and there are conditions that cause them.
“In Nigeria, 80 per cent of the causes of delays and cancellations are due to factors that are not in the control of airlines.
“Airlines operating in Nigeria are forced to operate in an environment that is wrought with infrastructure deficiencies that are highly disruptive to normal schedule reliability and on time performance.”
Abdulmunaf listed some of the more prevalent causes of delays and cancellations as the unavailability and rising cost of Jet A1 (which today costs above N585 per litre in Lagos, N607 in Abuja and Port Harcourt, and N685 in Kano).
He added that inadequate parking space for aircraft on the apron sometimes leading to ground accidents, inadequate screening and exit points at departure, inefficient passenger access and facilitation.
According to him, others are the natural and unforeseen circumstances such as weather and catastrophic failures (e.g. bird strikes & component failures), and restrictions caused by sunset airports among others.
He, however, appeal to passengers to express some restraint in expressing their frustrations during flight delays or cancellation.
The president said this was because the airline, within the prevailing circumstances could be complying with a safety procedure, obeying a regulation or facing certain difficulties beyond its immediate control.
Abdulmunaf urged the Federal government through the Ministry of Aviation to beef up security at the nation’s airports and ensure that the lives of airline staff and their properties were lawfully protected.
