NCAA cracks down on airlines during flight delays, cancellation triggers passengers’ anger

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned 13 domestic airlines to emergency meetings in Abuja for the increase in flight and cancellation delays that made passengers frustrated and angry throughout the country.

The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday at the NCAA headquarters, was confirmed by the Director of the Agency for Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, in a post on his X -rank on Tuesday.

This intervention follows weeks that raised complaints from air travelers, many of which have been brought to social media to vent their anger over disturbances, with some increased incidents into difficult behavior at the airport. NCAA has associated some of this trend with the failure of the airline to follow flight rules and protect passenger rights.

“Recently, acts of violence have become prominent in the Nigerian airport incident caused by various reasons,” authorities said. “While some of the unregulated behaviors are caused by passenger ignorance about flight rules, some are a result of the deliberate airline movement to avoid regulations and eliminate passengers of their rights.”

Achimugu explained that the meeting would focus on several urgent issues, including constant delay and cancellation, passenger handling protocols, refunds and complaints of unresolved compensation, and compliance with the direction of safety such as mandatory telephone switches. Other topics will include the protection of cabin crew and NCAA staff, as well as the introduction to the marks of RFID baggage and real-time flight monitoring technology.

The hard action came only a day after the NCAA warned the airline to fully comply with Nigerian civil aviation rules, especially part 19, which required operators to provide hotel accommodation for passengers who were stranded between 10:00 noon and 4:00 am

Also read: Kaduna Council Members kidnapped by Freed after four days in captivity

The regulator said it was ready to improve law enforcement, emphasizing that airlines that were not compliant were no longer protected from accountability. “For approved violations, the authority will apply the maximum steps possible. We will not leave our regulatory letters,” Achimugu said.

He further revealed that NCAA consumer protection officers had been forced to manage passengers who were angry at night because the airlines canceled flights without providing welfare support. “This describes officials to unnecessary risks,” he warned.

NCAA also threatened to start a “naming and embarrassing” carrier who repeatedly violated the rules and discomfort of passengers.

While acknowledging that domestic airlines face operational challenges, Achimugu clarifies that the reason will not be enough. “The era of relief is over. Operators must meet the expected standards if they want to be considered as world class,” he said.