The NCAA called for a stakeholder meeting on 27th December 2024, chaired by the Director-General NCAA (DGCA) to address widespread flight disruptions caused by the harmattan season and other operational challenges. The meeting focused on finding lasting solutions through collaboration and effective policy implementation.
Key Resolutions
1.Operational Measures
•Airport operational hours will be extended to 10:00 PM for sunset airports with facilities and adequate lighting.
•Airlines are advised to optimize/ trim their flight schedules to a manageable size and maintain standby aircraft to manage Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations.
• Weather forecasts from NIMET should be utilized for better flight scheduling.
2.Passenger Behavior and Sensitization
•Sensitization campaigns on unruly passenger behavior will be jointly conducted by NCAA and FAAN, with a public statement to be issued.
•Mobile courts will be operational to address incidents involving unruly passengers.
•AVSEC officials are to deploy promptly during passenger agitations at the airports and de-escalate aggression professionally.
3.Environmental and Safety Concerns
•Efforts are underway with local leaders to address waste management and other environmental issues near airports, to help reduce bird strike risks.
•Unauthorized access to tarmacs will not be tolerated, and stricter security measures will be enforced.
4.Collaboration and Communication Among Airlines
•Airlines are encouraged to collaborate on luggage and passenger handling, (re-protection) following the example of Ibom Air’s partnerships.
•Passengers should be informed formally when luggage is removed due to space or weight limitations.
5.Public Relations and Media Perception
•Airlines, particularly Air Peace, expressed concerns over negative media narratives and called for investigations into defamatory reporting.
•Passengers must be educated on weather-related disruptions and their implications on flight schedules.
6.compliance with Nig. CARs 2023 Part 19 (consumer protection regulations)
•Airlines must during disruptions mandatorily provide information, CARE, refreshments, rerouting options and hotel accommodation as applicable and process all passenger refunds for tickets as stipulated by Nig. CARs 2023 Part 19 (immediately for cash purchase and within two weeks for online purchases), as mandated by the DGCA.
- delayed/loss/missing/ pilfered luggage complaints must be addressed speedily with appropriate compensation offered.
Closing Remarks
The DGCA emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to address flight disruption challenges and enhance passenger experiences. Immediate action will be taken on the issues of unruly passengers and operational inefficiencies.
Signed:
Michael Achimugu
Date: 27th December 2024