Airports to have mobile courts, try unruly passengers – NCAA
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has made plans to establish mobile courts at airports across the country to try passengers who are unmanageable.
Neptune Prime reports that in the event of flight delays, cancellations, and other issues, some passengers resort to attacking airline/airport officials physically and, at other times, disrupt airport services. The NCAA has frowned upon this attitude and has made plans to establish mobile courts to try such cases in the nation’s airports.
When there are delays at destination points in airports across the country, especially Lagos, Abuja, and others where cancellations occur, passengers get upset.
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At a stakeholders meeting convened by the NCAA to tackle the rising flight disruptions held in Lagos, it was agreed that airport operational hours would be extended to 10:00 p.m. for sunset airports with facilities and adequate lighting.
Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), was in attendance. Representatives of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), as well as Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), led by Allen Onyema, Vice-President and CEO of Air Peace, were all in attendance.
The meeting was convened to find lasting solutions to the myriad of challenges, such as harmattan and operational issues, while also seeking solutions through collaborative policy implementation.
The NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, in a communiqué with stakeholders in the sector, condemned the rising attitude of unruly behaviors by some passengers who at times attack airline staff over flight delays and cancellations.
It was agreed that sensitisation campaigns against unruly passenger behavior would be jointly conducted by NCAA and FAAN, with a public statement to be issued.
The communiqué added, “AVSEC officials are to deploy promptly during passenger agitations at the airports and de-escalate aggression professionally.
“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.”
Also, airlines were advised to optimize/trim their flight schedules to a manageable size and maintain standby aircraft to manage Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations.
It was also agreed that weather forecasts from NIMET should be utilized for better flight scheduling.
The meeting also encouraged airlines 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,” it added.
Similarly, airlines expressed concerns over negative media narratives and called for investigations into defamatory reporting.
The resolution added, “Passengers must be educated on weather-related disruptions and their implications on flight schedules.
“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 purchases and within two weeks for online purchases), as mandated by the DGCA.
“Delayed/lost/missing/pilfered luggage complaints must be addressed speedily with appropriate compensation offered.”
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