The NCAA recently reaffirmed its stance on refunds, stipulating that airlines must process refunds for online ticket purchases within 14 days or issue immediate cash refunds for tickets bought with cash.
Lagos, Nigeria – The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken enforcement action against five airlines—two international and three domestic carriers—for violating Part 19 of its regulations.
This was disclosed in a statement by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on Tuesday. The airlines were penalized for offenses including failure to issue refunds within the stipulated time frame, non-compliance with NCAA directives, issues with lost or mishandled luggage, and delays or cancellations deemed preventable.
While acknowledging that airlines are not always responsible for flight disruptions, the airline regulatory body emphasized that its regulations mandate airlines to act swiftly during such incidents. Non-compliance attracts penalties.
The NCAA recently reaffirmed its stance on refunds, stipulating that airlines must process refunds for online ticket purchases within 14 days or issue immediate cash refunds for tickets bought with cash.
Amid increased complaints of delays and cancellations during the busy holiday season, Mr. Achimugu highlighted that many disruptions were caused by external factors. He attributed numerous cancellations to poor visibility linked to the harmattan season, describing such situations as force majeure, which exempts airlines from liability.
However, he clarified that sanctions were issued for cases where airlines were found to be at fault. “The enforcement we are initiating today is on cases where the airline is deemed to have been at fault. More will come,” Achimugu stated.
To address the growing concerns over flight disruptions and regulatory breaches, the NCAA has summoned the Chief Executive Officers of all airlines for a meeting this week. The authority aims to reinforce compliance and prevent further violations.
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