Photo caption: L-R: Director of Aviation Security Services, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Albert Igbafe Afegbai; Director of Airport Operations, FAAN, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood; Managing Director, FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku; acting Director General/CEO, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo and Representative of NiMet Managing Director, Mr. Adedeji Sanwo-Olu, during a meeting with airlines’ CEOs l at the NCAA Annex, Murtala Muhammed Int’l Airport, Lagos
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has disclosed that a total of 190 flights were cancelled and 5,225 were delayed out of the 10,804 flights operated between September and October this year.
This is just as he said that though airline operators are faced with challenges such : infrastructural limitations and operational constraints, but that it must not be to the detriment of the passengers.
The Acting Director General of NCAA,Chris Najomo, made this known at a meeting with the Chief Executive Officers of airlines’ today in Lagos.
Giving the breakdown, Najomo, pointed out that in September 2024, 5,291 domestic flights were operated with 2,434 delays and 79 cancellations, while in October 2024, 5513 flights were operated with 2,791 delays and 111 cancellations recorded.
The NCAA boss noted that sometimes, delays and cancellations are inevitable, adding that poor administration and communication from the airlines when these disruptions happen, has far-reaching implications
Najomo pointed out that it is the duty of airline operators to ensure that anytime there is disruption, caused by operational, technical, or weather-related issues, the matter is handled professionally , taking into consideration passengers’ rights, especially during this harmattan season where poor inclement weather conditions affect flights.
Speaking further, Najomo stated that He said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations(NCARs) as it concerns flight cancellations and delays as provided for in the Nigeria Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection) Regulations, 2023 are mandatory obligations that all airlines must strictly adhere to .
On the compensation of passengers , Najomo said they must be provided where applicable and that failure to comply with these regulations will not be tolerated.
He said that henceforth the regulatory body will not hesitate to sanction airlines that breach the regulations.
According to him, “I have instructed my team to monitor and enforce compliance and apply sanctions. My team has engaged the industry in the last year by organising awareness, sensitisation and training sessions for the airlines and the association of travel agents to re-educate them on the provisions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation regulations and airline obligations to passengers in the event of disruptions.”
He continued, “This is also extended to passengers to also educate them on their responsibilities as the NCAA will also be joining airlines to enforce whatever penalties will be applicable for unruly behaviour because with Rights comes responsibilities”
He called on the operators to invest in operational systems that can minimise avoidable delays.
Speaking on refund by airlines to passengers, he told airline chiefs to always offer immediate, care, refund, reimbursement and or compensation as applicable and the essence is not to comply with NCAA regulations but to also foster trust, good relationship.
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