NCAA Plans Stiffer Penalties For Airlines Over Chronic Flight Delays
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to impose stiffer penalties on domestic airlines that repeatedly subject passengers to chronic flight delays.
NCAA’s Director Public Affairs and Consumer Protection , Micheal Achimugu who disclosed this via his verified handle on Thursday cited recent lapses in operational efficiency and passenger handling.
The Authority said while government agencies have consistently supported local airline operators, there is now a growing need for stronger regulatory consequences where inefficiency becomes recurrent and unjustifiable.
According to the NCAA, successive interventions by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu, alongside policy reforms driven by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, were intended to stabilise and strengthen the aviation sector.
“These efforts have included regulatory reforms, consumer protection initiatives and policy instruments such as the CTC Practice Direction and IDERA framework,” the Authority noted.
While acknowledging the difficult operating environment faced by airlines, the NCAA stressed that certain lapses particularly poor communication during delays and cancellations remain unacceptable.
The regulator reiterated that airlines are obligated to comply with existing regulations on passenger welfare, including the provision of Hotel Accommodation (HOTAC) and First Needs Compensation during prolonged disruptions.
The NCAA observed that inadequate information management and poor passenger handling have contributed significantly to incidents of unrest and violence at airport terminals across the country.
Drawing international comparisons, the Authority referenced a recent enforcement action by United States regulators, who fined JetBlue Airways two million dollars for chronic flight delays an unprecedented sanction aimed at improving airline accountability.
The NCAA emphasised that aviation regulations must evolve in response to emerging challenges and their impact on the industry, adding that a comprehensive review of enforcement mechanisms is underway.
“The Authority remains committed to protecting the rights of all stakeholders,” the NCAA said, adding that regulatory updates would strengthen its capacity to ensure compliance by both operators and passengers.
