The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed penalties on five airlines—two international and three domestic operators—for breaching regulations under Part 19 of the NCAA guidelines.
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, announced the sanctions on Tuesday, citing violations such as failure to issue refunds within stipulated timelines, non-responsiveness to directives, mishandling of luggage, and avoidable delays and cancellations.
While acknowledging that some flight disruptions, especially during the harmattan season, are due to force majeure like poor visibility, Achimugu emphasized that sanctions are targeted at cases where airlines are at fault. He reiterated that NCAA regulations require airlines to provide cash refunds immediately for tickets purchased with cash or issue refunds within 14 days for online purchases.
The authority has also summoned airline CEOs for a meeting to address recurring disruptions and ensure compliance with aviation standards. The NCAA confirmed that further enforcement actions may follow as investigations continue.
