Nigeria Airports to establish mobile courts to try unruly passengers

Authorities in the aviation sector have reviewed how some passengers protesting against flight delays or cancellations sometimes resort to physical attacks on airline and airport workers or disrupt facilities at the airports and have concluded plans to establish mobile courts at airports to try unruly passengers.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have frowned against the attitude of such unruly passengers and have agreed as part of measures to address incidents of flight disruptions especially at airports without 24-hour operation to now extend airport operational hours to 10 pm at sunset airports.

The sunset airports are those operating between the hours of 7 a.m and 7 p.m due to absence of night flying facilities.

Gentechnews learnt that most times when there are delays at the destination airports especially from Lagos and Abuja, most airports without 24-hour operation usually suffer cancellation with passengers getting agitated over the situation.

At a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to tackle rising flight disruptions held at the NCAA Annex in Lagos, it was agreed that airport operational hours would be extended to 10:00pm for sunset airports with facilities and adequate lighting.

In attendance at the meeting which was convened to address widespread flight disruptions caused by the harmattan season and other operational challenges were the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, representatives of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) led by the Vice-President, Mr. Allen Onyema, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace.

The communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, noted that stakeholders condemned the rising incidents of unruly behaviours by passengers who sometimes beat up airline staff over flight delays or cancellations.

It was agreed in the communique that sensitisation campaigns against unruly passenger behaviour would be jointly conducted by NCAA and FAAN, with a public statement to be issued accordingly.

According to the communique, “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.

“Unauthorised access to tarmacs will not be tolerated, and stricter security measures will be enforced.”

“The airlines were advised to optimise or 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 utilised for better flight scheduling.”

The meeting also urges 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,” the communique added.

Equally, the airlines expressed concerns over negative media narratives and called for investigations into defamatory reporting.

The communique further stated that, “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 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.”