NCAA warns airlines over rule breaches, passenger delays

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has vowed to take tougher action against domestic airlines that breach operational and passenger protection regulations, warning that no carrier will be shielded from sanctions.

 

The warning was issued by the authority’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, in a post on his verified X handle on Wednesday.

 

Achimugu said the NCAA would step up enforcement and hold airlines accountable for failing to meet regulatory requirements, particularly when operational disruptions leave passengers stranded.

 

He specifically cautioned airlines with aircraft on ground (AOG) against maintaining normal schedules when their available fleet cannot support the operations.

 

According to him, carriers affected by grounded aircraft should scale down their schedules instead of continuing to sell tickets they may be unable to honour.

 

The NCAA official also reminded airlines that passengers are entitled to welfare services when flights are significantly delayed.

 

He said passengers subjected to delays of at least two hours should receive light refreshments, while those delayed for six hours must be provided with a proper meal.

 

Where a delay extends to 10 p.m., affected passengers should also be offered accommodation, except where the passenger resides in the city where the disruption occurs and other applicable conditions apply.

 

The NCAA warning comes amid fresh complaints over flight disruptions involving some domestic carriers.

 

Air Peace, one of the airlines affected by the recent disruptions, attributed delays and cancellations across parts of its network to a combination of operational and external factors.

 

The airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, apologised to affected passengers in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the disruptions were caused by a false fire alarm, bird strike, adverse weather, technical challenges and delays in aviation fuel availability.

 

Olajide explained that one aircraft was grounded after an inadvertent false fire alarm, while another remained out of service for several days following a bird strike.

 

She added that bad weather forced diversions and caused delays, with some flights eventually cancelled.

 

According to her, technical problems requiring mandatory inspections and maintenance also contributed to the disruptions, while delays in obtaining aviation fuel affected some operations.

 

The airline said it understood the frustration caused to passengers and was taking measures to limit the impact of the disruptions.

 

It, however, maintained that safety considerations would not be compromised in an attempt to restore normal flight schedules.

 

Olajide said the airline would not return an aircraft to service until its technical teams and established safety procedures had confirmed that it was fit to fly.

 

The NCAA’s latest warning signals a stricter regulatory approach as the authority seeks to ensure that airlines align their schedules with available operational capacity while meeting their obligations to passengers during disruptions.