The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has stated that the agency will longer tolerate continuous flight delays and cancellations by some airlines in the country, advising about 13 International airlines, 8 domestic airlines to put a stop to the increasing phenomenon.
Airport operators including Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services were also advised on the issue of delays and cancellations.
The apex regulatory agency, therefore, declared that the agency is going to observe strictly zero tolerance to flight cancellations/delays that has plagued airline operations within the country.
In an official statement issued today titled “NCAA Declares Zero Tolerance For Flight Cancellations/Delays” and signed by the General Manager, Public Relations Affairs of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, the agency informed that, the declaration was made at the just concluded stakeholder’s forum organised by the Authority at the NCAA annex, Ikeja Lagos.
Adurogboye stated that the forum was attended by 13 International airlines, 8 domestic airlines, and Airport operators – the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services, stressing that airlines operators were asked to enumerate their challenges that could be the likely causes of delays and cancellations.
According to Adurogboye, the airlines itemised various challenges amongst which are: fuel supply, need for improvement in infrastructure at the airport, unruly passengers and traffic along airport road etc.
The Management of the NCAA and FAAN in their response assured the operators that all these challenges will be tackled very soon, resolving that “airlines should be realistic in their flight planning/schedules; disseminate on time information to passengers on flight status; ensure they provide right to care to passengers in times of delays/cancellations in line with the Nig. CARs 2015 Part 19.
The resolution also pointed out that, NCAA and FAAN are to liaise with FMTA to replace fuel hydrants if the old ones will cost a lot of money to be fixed and the supply points should be connected to the airports.
“FAAN/airport operators/owners are to ensure facilities at the airports are functional (lightings, carousels, cooling systems etc); FMTA are to liaise with PPMC on fixing the underground pipeline layout from Apapa to Lagos airport to minimize surface transportation of fuel while FAAN should beef up security at the airports to prevent unlawful interference”.
According to the resolution, airlines’ representatives should be available to testify whenever cases of unruly passengers are referred to the Nigeria Police Force while the representative of FAAN Management are to ensure that action is expedited on the upgrade of lighting on Runway 18L/36R (MMIA).
Advising that airlines and airport operators should maintain constant Communication, the stakeholders charged airlines to always request for re-imbursement of expenses incurred from third parties/service providers with whom they signed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) as stipulated by the Nig. CARs Part 19.
Stating that FAAN is to ensure that the CCTV cameras are always operational, the resolution also touched the issue of airlines’ inputs which was noted should be considered in the design/construction of airports to avoid a repeat of the mistakes of the past.
“Airlines should develop responsive crisis management systems and file their Operation Disruption Manuals with NCAA as required by law. Domestic airlines/operators encouraged to enter into interlining arrangements. Requests from stakeholders/airlines for the provision of 24 hours operations at daylight airports should be forwarded to FAAN backed with economic realities on a sustainable level”, the stakeholders resolved.
“Against this backdrop, all airlines are therefore, warned to always adhere to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs 2015) and Passengers Bill of Rights in their dealings with passengers. Passengers must get value for their money. While the NCAA and FAAN are doing everything to resolve all the issues enumerated, flight delays and cancellations will not be acceptable”, NCAA concluded.
