The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken proactive steps to prevent disruptions in flight operations during the yuletide season.
According to Michael Achimugu, Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, NCAA, the organisation is committed to ensuring seamless air travel throughout the season and beyond.
Achimugu disclosed that the NCAA has taken all necessary measures to prevent disruptions, including increasing the capacity of fleets for air operations in the country.
This move follows the signing of the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), by the Hon. Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.
He noted that as part of the effort, 10 new aircraft have been approved to come into the country, which will significantly boost the capacity of fleets for air operations.
He added that the development is expected to reduce delays and cancellations, ensuring that travellers can enjoy a seamless air travel experience during the yuletide season.
Also, the Agency on Wednesday organized a Road Show/Enlightenment Campaign in Port Harcourt to sensitize air customers on the appropriate process for laying complaints about issues of disruption.
The initiative was aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the aviation sector.
Achimugu emphasized that the agency is committed to fairness, stressing that the agency supports passengers when they are wronged but also backs airlines when justified.
He encouraged passengers to familiarise themselves with aviation regulations to avoid conflicts and assured them of the NCAA’s readiness to mediate disputes.
He noted that many travellers do not know that when their rights are violated or plans disrupted, they ought to report to NCAA, stating that the sensitization was to empower air passengers to know their rights and responsibilities.
He said: “We are now in the high travel season in the aviation sector, and as you know, there have been a lot of flight disruptions over the year, and there have been a lot of complaints regarding that.
“Our duty at the NCAA is to sensitize our passengers because most of the time when complaints come about these disruptions, they come from a place of poor knowledge about their rights and responsibilities as air passengers.
“Our duty in the Air Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA is to protect both the passengers and the airlines as businesses. They are all our stakeholders. We cannot blame passengers for what they do not know. So, we are creating mass awareness. It will continue throughout next year. A lot of persons do not know that if they have a problem in air travel, NCAA is the place to report.”
Achimugu stressed that there would not be disruptions during this period, adding that more fleets are coming into the country to increase the capacity of air operations in the country.
He said: “There will not be disruptions this festive season because of the Hon. Minister’s signing of the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction and my Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, more aircraft are coming into the country.
“Recently, there are 10 new aircraft in Nigeria, spread across airlines, Ibom Air, Air Peace, and United Nigeria. These have ramped up the fleets in Nigeria because we have always had capacity problems. But now, we have more planes. The disruptions are going to reduce.
“In NCAA, we are recording in the history of Nigeria the issue of case resolution. Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where airlines are made to pay 100% refunds without charges.”
