NCAA schedules mandatory meeting with airline CEOs over incessant flight delays, cancellations

The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, has scheduled a meeting with Chief Executive Officers of domestic airlines to address the ongoing flight delays and cancellations that have plagued passengers during the festive season.

This was disclosed by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on Thursday via his X handle. He revealed that Najomo is cutting short an important assignment to convene the meeting on Friday.

Recounting a recent personal experience, Achimugu shared how he encountered an irate crowd of passengers while trying to board his flight. “Passengers were visibly upset and even threatened to become violent,” he said. To de-escalate the situation, Achimugu engaged with them for about 20 minutes, explaining that he would confirm from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) whether adverse weather conditions were indeed responsible for the delays. He further clarified that airlines are not liable in cases of force majeure.

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Taking immediate steps to address passengers’ grievances, Achimugu facilitated transportation for passengers back to the city center, paid for nearby accommodation for elderly passengers, and negotiated compensation with the airline. “The airline agreed to pay 50% compensation to the passengers and to refund those requesting it. I ensured passengers could redeem the compensation in cash if they preferred,” he said. Additionally, he provided passengers access to the NCAA’s QR code for lodging complaints and promised to follow up if their issues remained unresolved.

Achimugu noted that this incident follows NCAA’s recent announcement of enforcement actions against five airlines, marking a significant move by the Consumer Protection Department—the first of its kind in over a decade. He also revealed plans to strengthen oversight by requesting NiMET to send daily weather reports directly to his office, allowing for quick verification of airline claims regarding weather disruptions.

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In a show of personal commitment, Achimugu disclosed that three days ago, he used part of his salary to assist indigent passengers awaiting refunds from an airline facing critical financial challenges.

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