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Tag: Flight delays

  • NCAA lists compensations for flight delay, cancellation, others

    NCAA lists compensations for flight delay, cancellation, others

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has affirmed that passengers are entitled to compensation for flight delay, cancellation, luggage delay, missing or loss by airlines.

    Mr Michael Achimugu, the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

    According to him, a passenger is entitled to first needs payment of N10,000 on domestic flights when the passenger’s luggage is missing and 170 US Dollar on international flights while the luggggage is being searched for.

    “For domestic flight, the airline has one day to seven days to search for the missing luggage while on international flights, the airline has one day to 21 days to search for the luggage.

    “A luggage is said to be lost if not found after seven days search on domestic flights and 21 days search on international flights.

    “The process for compensation for missing luggage commences after the said luggage is declared missing. Any fees paid for that luggage must also be refunded,” he said.

    The director said the refunds for tickets on cancelled or delayed flights should be paid  immediately, if payment was made in cash or within 14 days if it was paid by bank transfer or any means other electronic methods.

    Contributing, the NCAA Director of Special Duties, Mr Horatius Egua, urged passengers to know their rights regarding the aviation sector.

    He stated that challenges the authority encountered included, lack of awareness among passengers, limited enforcement of consumer rights, inadequate infrastructure and corruption.

    “NCAA has emphasised increased passenger education and awareness, strengthening of regulatory agencies, improved airline customer service and enhanced infrastructure development

    “By knowing your rights as consumer, you can advocate for better treatment and services,” he said.

    On her part, Mrs Ifueko Abdulmalik, the Senior Special Adviser to the NCAA Acting Director General, Capt. Chris Najomo, said the airline ought to provide clear terms and conditions and also ensure timely departure and arrival.

    According to her, Airline obligations are to provide adequate baggage handling, offer compensation for delays, cancellations, or overbooking and maintain safe and secured aircraft.

    “Passenger have rights to know flight schedule, fare, and baggage allowance; right to compensation for flight delays; right to refund for unused tickets (within 7 days) and right to baggage protection.

    “Common Issues from the passengers include, flight delays and cancellations, baggage loss, damage, or delay, overbooking and denied boarding, refund and compensation disputes, “ she said.

  • Airline operators urge FAAN to increase check-in counters

    Airline operators urge FAAN to increase check-in counters

    The Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to increase the number of check-in counters to reduce flight delays experienced by passengers at the airports.

    The Vice President of the association, Chief Allen Onyema made this known at a book launch: ‘Air Transportation In Nigeria: The Lingering Expectations,’ in Lagos on Friday.

    Newsmen reports that the two veteran aviation journalists, Olusegun Koiki and Chinedu Eze are the two authors of the book on air transportation in Nigeria.

    Onyema, who is also the Air Peace Chairman, said airlines were experiencing inadequate counters to check-in thousands of passengers especially during the yuletide period where there would be increase in passengers traffic.

    The vice president decried that ten airlines were cramped into one small space to execute their flights service to different parts of the country.

    He said: “Flight delays and probably cancellations may be a topic for discussion this yuletide if nothing is done about the current inadequate counters for domestic airlines to check-in passengers especially at the Abuja Airport.

    “Most airlines have brought in new aircraft from two to ten to augment their operations during the yuletide but the challenge is beyond fleet size.

    “This is especially if facilitation is slowed as a result of lack of capacity of the airport to handle flights from Abuja to destinations like Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano, Uyo, Asaba etc, all at once.

    “Even in international operations, domestic airlines are left with three counters to operate.
    “However, an expanse of space is given to foreign airlines which is a disservice to Nigerians who are trying to get it right under harsh environment.”

    Onyema noted that the issue of delays were not solely airlines’ responsibilities as those supposed to provide infrastructure and support the airlines were not given Nigerian airlines adequate infrastructure to support their business.

    The vice president said he had written to FAAN, the Ministry of Aviation on the issue of the Abuja check-in counters, saying that it was not encouraging for nine or ten airlines to be assigned in one small space.
    He said: “However, a few days ago, the Managing Director of FAAN spoke to me on phone and assured me they are going to do something about it.

    “What we are asking for is expansion. The old international terminal (Abuja) is lying fallow, if some of us (airlines) should go there, we will have enough counters for check in.

    “Not when they give you two counters and you are checking in thousands of people, delays will surely come and I tell the flying public to stop blaming the airlines for delays.”

    Newsmen recalls that there are plans to reserve the old international Airport terminal in Abuja for the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, currently mired in controversy and awaiting its day in court.

    However, domestic airlines already operating are still finding it difficult to handle their growing passengers in the constricted space allocated to them.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Koiki, who is the Chairman of Association of League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) said the book focused on several burning issues and topics in the sector.

    He said the book also x-rayed the aviation industry, its history, milestones and critically reviewed policies, regulations and actions taken by government and its agencies in the sector over the years.

    Newsmen reports that Onyema, who is the Chairman of the occasion while unveiling the book donated the sum of N10 million.