The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced strict measures against airlines that delay passengers’ luggage, imposing fines of $170 for international carriers and N10,000 for local airlines as a deterrent.

Passengers’ Rights and Compensation

During a roadshow at the Lagos airport on Monday, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, emphasized passengers’ rights, including compensation for delayed or missing luggage. For missing luggage on domestic flights, passengers can claim up to $1,000, while international travelers are entitled to 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR).

Achimugu highlighted the NCAA’s commitment to enforcing these measures during the upcoming holiday travel season.

“For too long, passengers have been unaware of their rights, enabling airlines to continue violating them. This ends now. If your luggage is delayed on a domestic flight, you are entitled to N10,000. For international flights, it is $170,” he said.

New Tools to Assist Passengers

The NCAA recently launched a user-friendly website aimed at simplifying the complaints process. Achimugu noted that the platform has significantly increased passenger complaints, forcing airlines to adhere more closely to regulations.

The agency plans to extend its roadshow and stakeholders’ summit to Abuja and Port Harcourt airports to further educate travelers.

Luggage Delays by Airline

An NCAA executive summary revealed that in the first half of 2024, over 19,274 pieces of luggage were reported delayed or missing across all airlines. Air France led the list of offenders with 2,075 cases, followed by KLM (1,938), Egypt Air (1,850), and Royal Air Maroc (1,745).

Other carriers with high instances include:

• British Airways: 1,428 cases
• Lufthansa: 1,535 cases
• Kenya Airways: 1,346 cases
• Delta Airlines: 1,101 cases

For domestic carriers, Air Peace recorded 49 cases, while Africa World Airlines had 35.

Impact of the Initiative

With these new measures and tools, the NCAA aims to end passenger ignorance about their rights and ensure better compliance from airlines. Achimugu assured travelers that the regulatory agency is committed to protecting their interests and enforcing accountability in the aviation industry.