NCAA slams Air Peace, Max Air and other airlines with new lost delayed passenger baggage fees

• The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said passengers are now entitled to compensation for delayed or lost luggage
• The agency’s acting DG Chris Najomo said passengers are entitled to $10,000 or $170 for delayed baggage 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.

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

Chris Najomo, acting director general of the NCAA, made the announcement in Abuja at a news conference, saying it is time for passengers to get their rights.

NCAA decries N5 million fine on domestic airlines

Najomo said if passengers’ luggage is delayed, they are entitled to an initial payment of N10,000 for domestic flights and $170 for international flights while the luggage is being searched. The airline has a maximum of seven days to search for domestic flights and 21 days for international flights.

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

Accordingly, the NCCA DG announced that $1,000 would be paid to domestic passengers. In contrast, 1,288 SDR (Special Drawing Right), which is convertible into the currency of any country, would be paid provided the claim is assessed by the airline’s insurance company.

Passengers will receive immediate refunds for canceled flights

The agency further revealed that the timeline refund for canceled airline tickets, if paid in cash, is an immediate refund and 14 days for payments made via bank or credit card.

He disclosed that defaulting airlines would be fined N5 million if they failed to refund the canceled flights.

Air Peace increases fares

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

There will be a one-way flight from November 1, 2024 Lagos to Abuja on board Air Peace will reach N200,000.

Experts say the tough economy is hitting the airline industry hard, forcing airlines to raise fares amid passenger protests.

Airfares on Nigerian Airlines

The development has forced some Nigerians to choose alternative modes of transportation and prefer road travel.

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

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

Punch reports that the increase in fares has left many passengers stranded at airports because they could not get a flight to their destination.

Airlines start direct flights to UAE

Legit.ng previously reported that the Minister of Aviation and Space Development, Festus Keyamo, has agreed to this mutual rights to ensure that Nigerian airlines commence direct flights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, Keymo’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, the meeting formed the basis for the new Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two countries.

He announced that the agreement would boost cooperation between the two countries and establish guidelines for them.

Source: Legit.ng