- The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a $170 or N10,000 fine on foreign and domestic airlines, respectively, over delayed passengers’ luggage
- A total of 19,274 cases of delayed/missing passengers’ luggage were recorded in the first half of 2024
- Air France takes the lead of airlines with cases of delayed/missing passengers’ luggage in the first half of 2024
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is set to impose $170 and N10,000 fines on foreign and domestic airlines, respectively, over delayed passengers’ luggage.
The NCAA said the measure is in keeping with the implementation of the passenger bill of rights, which ensures that passengers are fully compensated whenever airlines compromise their standard of service, as contained in the passenger bill of rights in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR).
The agency added that such delayed luggage must be delivered to the affected passenger within 21 days for international routes and within seven days for local flights.
The agency’s director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, stated this on Monday, November 18, during a roadshow organised by the NCAA at the Lagos airport to sensitise passengers travelling during the yuletide.
Achimugu said it was regrettable that passengers’ rights have been violated for a long time because most air travellers are unaware of their rights, adding that the roadshow aims to address this as passengers would be more aware of their rights and the appropriate quarters to lay complaints.
He said, “For way too long, Nigerians have been claiming not to know about the existence and the duties of the NCAA. Our duty, which is what we owe Nigerians, is to bring awareness to the industry. The passengers need to become more aware of their rights so that airlines will not continue to cheat them.
“The little things about the regulations that the passengers need to know, for instance, if you arrive at an airport and your luggage didn’t arrive with you, most passengers do not know that they have a right to demand compensation from the airlines.
“If it is a domestic flight, you can walk to the airline’s counter to demand for your N10,000 for not bringing your bag with you. For international flights, it is $170. A lot of passengers do not know this thing, but today, we are bringing an end to that circle of ignorance. We are bringing the regulations to Nigerians in an exciting manner.”
Achimugu also urged passengers to visit its newly launched website for more information and to file complaints, adding that the roadshow and stakeholders’ summit will be held at Abuja and Port Harcourt airports.
Nigeria recorded 19,274 delayed/missing luggage in H1 2024
According to NCAA records, no fewer than 19,274 passengers’ luggage was declared delayed or missing across foreign and local airlines in the first half of 2024.
A breakdown of the records showed that 18,955 passengers’ luggage was missing among international airlines, while 319 were among the domestic carriers.
The records revealed that 17,365 luggage of international passengers were later recovered while the remaining 1,590 luggage remained unaccounted for.
For domestic carriers, the entire 319 delayed/missing luggage were recovered and delivered to the affected passengers by the 13 domestic airline operators involved.
Air France had highest number of missing luggage
A further breakdown of the records showed that Air France accounted for the highest number of missing passengers’ luggage with 2,075 cases among foreign carriers flying into Nigeria.
Air France is closely followed by KLM with 1,938 cases; Egypt Air with 1,850; Royal Air Maroc with 1,745; British Airways with 1,428; Lufthansa with1,535; Kenya Airways with 1,346 and Delta Airlines had 1,101.
Other airlines with cases of delayed/missing passengers’ luggage include Qatar Airways, 980; Ethiopian Airlines, 545; Air Cote d’Ivoire, 424; Rwandair, 365; Asky, 290; South African Airways, 77; Air Peace, 49; Africa World Airlines, 35; Taag Angola, 31 and the Middle East with only five missing luggage.
NCAA has been implementing measures to ensure that the rights of passengers are respected and guaranteed and to improve Nigeria’s aviation industry.
In October, the NCAA announced that passengers could claim up to $1,000 for missing luggage on domestic flights as well as $1,288 Special Drawing Rights for international flights.
The agency’s latest statement follows an earlier announcement of the implementation of the fine by the NCAA.
“Over 100 airlines failed in past 40 years,” Keyamo notes high mortality rate in aviation industry
Meanwhile, TheRadar reported that Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said the aviation industry has a significant mortality rate, resulting in the downfall of more than 100 airlines over the past 40 years.
Keyamo revealed this at the Lagos event celebrating the 10th anniversary of Air Peace, the largest airline in West Africa and Nigeria’s flag carrier, on Saturday, October 26.
