NCAA Slams Air Peace, Max Air and Other Airlines with New Charges for Lost and Delayed Passenger Baggage

• The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said passengers are now entitled to compensation for delayed or lost baggage.
• The agency’s acting CEO, Chris Najomo, said passengers are entitled to $10,000 or $170 for delayed luggage in the first seven days of the search.
• He said domestic passengers would receive about $1,000 as compensation for lost luggage, while the airline would be fined N5 million.

Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on technology, energy, stocks, investments and the economy for more than a decade.

He Nigeria The Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revealed that passengers whose luggage is delayed are entitled to an essential compensation payment of N10,000 for domestic flights and $170 for international flights.

Chris Najomo, interim general director of the NCAA, revealed this in Abuja at a press conference, saying that it is time for passengers to regain their rights.

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NCAA imposes N5 million fine on domestic airlines

Najomo said when passengers’ luggage is delayed, they are entitled to an emergency payment of N10,000 for domestic flights and $170 for international flights while the luggage is checked. The airline has up to seven days to search for domestic flights and 21 days for international flights.

He described lost luggage as luggage that had not been found after a day of searching on domestic flights and 21 days on international flights.

Accordingly, the NCCA Director General revealed that $1,000 would be paid to domestic passengers. Instead, 1,288 SDR (Special Drawing Right) would be paid, which can be converted to the currency of any country, subject to the airline’s insurance company evaluating the claim.

Passengers will get immediate refunds for canceled flights

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The agency also revealed that the refund period for canceled airline tickets, if paid in cash, is immediate refund and 14 days for payments made through bank or credit card.

He revealed that non-compliant airlines would be fined N5 million if they did not refund canceled flights.

Air Peace increases its fares

The development comes as Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, recently raised their rates by 100%.

Starting November 1, 2024, a one-way flight from Lakes to Abuja on board Air Peace will reach 200,000 naira.

Experts have said the tough economy is hitting the aviation industry hard, causing airlines to raise fares amid passenger protests.

Nigerian Airlines Airfares

This situation has forced some Nigerians to choose alternative means of transportation, preferring to travel by road.

Findings show that Air Peace airfares on Monday, October 21, 2022 increased fares to N200,000 since November, the highest among local airlines.

While Air Peace charges N200,000 or more on its site for a one-way trip from Lagos to Abuja, Aero charges from N94,000 to over N109,000; Arik Air charges between N104,405 and N139,292, and Ibom Air ranges from N124,000 to over N133,000.

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Punch reports that rising fares have left many passengers stranded at airports unable to get flights to their destinations.

Airlines will start direct flights to the United Arab Emirates

Legit.ng previously reported that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, agreed reciprocal rights to ensure that Nigerian airlines commence direct flight operations to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, Keymo’s special assistant on media and communications, the meeting laid the foundation for the new Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between the two countries.

He revealed that the agreement would boost collaboration between the two countries and set guidelines for them.

Source: Legit.ng