The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a N6 million sanction on Saudi Airlines over consumer protection-related infractions, signalling a tougher regulatory stance against airlines that fail to comply with passengers’ rights.
This revelation was made on Friday via a post on X by the authority’s spokesperson, Michael Achimugu.
The aviation regulator said the penalty became necessary after months of efforts to resolve outstanding complaints and ensure the airline complied with provisions of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, which deals with consumer protection.
According to the NCAA, it had earlier intervened to support Saudi Airlines during a tense situation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where its actions helped avert violence involving stranded passengers.
The Authority also granted the carrier an extended period to address pending issues and implement regulatory determinations.
However, with the airline yet to fully comply, the regulator said the N6 million sanction was unavoidable.
The NCAA expressed hope that the penalty would prompt Saudi Airlines to significantly improve its operations in Nigeria and strengthen its handling of passenger complaints and service delivery.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting air travellers, the Authority stressed that passengers flying to and from Nigeria deserve to be treated with respect and receive the level of service guaranteed under the country’s aviation regulations.
While maintaining that it would continue to support Saudi Airlines and other operators to achieve optimal operational standards, the NCAA warned that it would not hesitate to enforce regulatory sanctions where airlines violate consumer protection provisions.
