The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced stricter measures to address delays in passengers’ luggage by airlines. The regulatory body disclosed that it will impose fines of $170 on international airlines and ₦10,000 on domestic carriers for such incidents.
In addition, passengers are entitled to compensation for missing luggage, with claims of up to $1,000 on domestic flights and $1,288 under Special Drawing Rights for international flights.
Speaking at a roadshow at Lagos Airport on Monday, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, stressed the agency’s commitment to enforcing these regulations. He noted that many travellers are unaware of their rights, which has allowed airlines to flout the rules without consequences.
“For way too long, Nigerians have been claiming not to know about the NCAA’s existence and duties. 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 said.
To assist passengers, Achimugu highlighted the launch of a new NCAA website where complaints can be lodged. He reported increased passenger awareness and subsequent complaints since the platform went live.
The roadshow, which aims to educate passengers during the festive travel season, will also extend to Abuja and Port Harcourt airports.
Meanwhile, data from the NCAA revealed that Air France had the highest number of delayed or missing luggage cases among foreign carriers, with 2,075 incidents, followed by KLM (1,938) and Egypt Air (1,850).
In the first half of 2024, 19,274 pieces of luggage were reported delayed or missing across all airlines.
NCAA has vowed to ensure that airlines adhere to these regulations to improve the travel experience for passengers.