NCAA clarifies sanctions against airlines, dismisses safety concerns

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has debunked media reports suggesting that recent sanctions against five airlines were related to safety concerns, clarifying that the penalties were strictly for consumer protection infractions.

In a statement, the NCAA emphasized that the enforcement actions were in line with its commitment to safeguarding passenger rights as stipulated in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.

The sanctions followed the failure of Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airways, Air Peace, Arik Air, and Aero Contractors to process passenger refunds within the required timeframe.

Two weeks ago, the Authority’s Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, issued a warning, stating that airlines delaying refunds would face sanctions. This was promptly followed by enforcement action a week later.

To address broader concerns in the aviation sector, Acting Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, convened an emergency stakeholder meeting to tackle the persistent issues of flight delays and cancellations. During the meeting, Capt. Najomo urged airlines to scale their operations to match their available fleet capacity and prioritize consumer complaints.

Reacting to the sanctions, Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema admitted lapses in his company’s refund process.

“I noticed that some of my finance staff delayed payments, which is not in line with my vision of prioritizing passenger convenience,” Onyema said. He welcomed the NCAA’s action and pledged to improve the airline’s response time to customer complaints.

Despite the NCAA’s explanations, some media reports speculated that the sanctions might have been related to safety concerns. Addressing these claims, Michael Achimugu reiterated that the enforcement actions were purely consumer-related.

“Even the DGCA publicly announced at the stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos the names of the airlines and the reasons for the enforcement actions.

“My department deals strictly with consumer protection issues, not technical matters. So why would anyone think I can sanction an airline for safety reasons?” Achimugu stated.

He added, “We do not sensationalize serious issues. The department remains committed to protecting both operators and passengers as an unbiased umpire.”

The NCAA reassured the public of its dedication to ensuring a safe and consumer-friendly aviation environment while urging operators to comply with regulatory standards.