The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a warning to local airlines over ongoing flight delays and inadequate passenger care, stating that continued non-compliance will attract sanctions.
This was revealed by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, in a statement shared on X on Tuesday.
The caution comes after NCAA officials carried out an enforcement inspection of the Abuja operations of three domestic carriers—Xejet, Rano Air, and United Nigeria Airlines—on Monday.
According to Achimugu, the authority found that several airlines failed to give passengers prompt and truthful updates during delays and were intentionally avoiding the provision of light refreshments after the stipulated two-hour waiting period.
He described the practice as unacceptable, stressing that airlines must comply with consumer protection provisions, particularly during the peak December travel period when disruptions are common.
“While we understand the unique challenges of December per flight disruptions, airlines must provide the necessary care for passengers at a time like this,” he said.
According to him, the NCAA has issued an ultimatum to airlines, noting that the warning is not limited to the three operators visited.
“We have observed that most airlines do not provide timely, honest information, and that they try to evade the provision of light refreshments two hours into a delay, as stipulated by Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
“The NCAA finds this unacceptable and has given an ultimatum to the airlines. We are watching, and action will be taken where necessary,” Achimugu said.
The inspections, he said, were part of efforts to ensure airline compliance with consumer protection standards, particularly during periods of high passenger traffic.