The House of Representatives has charged the Federal Ministry of Aviation to enforce punitive measures against airlines operating in the country over flight delays.
The House also urged the ministry to sanitise the industry and ensure strict adherence to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Act 2022 and Part 19 Of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Regulations, (CARS)2023.
This followed the adoption of a motion by the chairman, House Committee on Civil Societies and Development Matters, Victor Obuzor, calling for an investigation into the non-compliance and enforcement of the NCAA and CARS 2023, which makes airlines liable for delay of passengers and their baggages.
Obuzor, in the his motion, said it is disheartening that while there are incessant flight delays by airlines in the country, the prescribed sanctions are not imposed on the defaulting air carriers.
According to him, the 2024 mid year Air Passenger Traffic report by the NCAA indicated that “Air Peace recorded 5,350 delays in 11,111 flights, Aero Contractors recorded 740 delays in 1,992 flights; Arik Air recorded 1, 378 delays in 2,331 flights; Dana Air recorded 999 in 1,446 flights.”
“Overland Airways, 696 in 1,227 flights; Max Air recorded 1,247 in 2,297 flights; Ibom Air recorded 1,508 delays in 3, 879 flights; United Nigeria operated 3,912 and recorded 2,439 delays. Also, Green Africa operated 2,368 flights and recorded 836 delays; Valuejet, operated 1659 flights and recorded 582 delays; Rano Air operated 2,464 flights and recorded 761 delays; Azman Air operated 145 flights with 76 delays.”
Obuzor contended that “despite the laws that have created liability for carriers when they delay frights or mishandle baggage in order to ensure their accountability and the protection of passengers rights, these flight delays and cancellations persist and have resulted in economic losses to both persons and businesses.
“In Nigeria, these liabilities are provided for in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Act, 2022 (NCAA, 2022) and Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Regulations, 2023 (CARS, 2023). The NCAA, 2022 provides that air carriers are generally liable for damage occasioned by delay of carriage of its passengers and their baggage.”
The lawmaker further stated that statistics indicates the annual economic loss as a result of flight delays runs into billions of Naira, including “potential loss of productivity for business travelers, airport congestion,” amongst others.
“The CARS, 2023 clearly states when an air carrier makes a significant change to a domestic flight, the air carrier must give the affected passengers notice of the change not later than 12 hours before the scheduled time of departure, while for international flights, a 14 days’ notice, as well as an option to reimburse the flight fare or re-route”.
“On the other hand, When passenger’s flights are canceled, air carriers must accord the passengers all the treatments applicable in the event of flight delays, as well as offering them an option between reimbursements of flight fare or re routing to the passenger’s destination.
“Additionally, domestic flight passengers have the right to a compensation that amounts to 25% of their flight fare, unless they are informed of the cancellation at least 24 hours before the scheduled time of departure”.
