The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has
issued a strong warning to both local and international airlines operating in
the country, insisting on full compliance with the First Need compensation
policy for passengers affected by short-landed baggage or risk sanctions.
Short-landed baggage refers to checked-in luggage that
is mistakenly left behind at the departure airport and arrives on a later
flight. According to Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2023, passengers
whose baggage is short-landed are entitled to compensation of N10,000 for
domestic flights and $170 for international flights to cover basic needs while
awaiting their luggage.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection
at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, gave this directive through a press statement
released to journalists on Monday. He stated that the authority would no longer
tolerate non-compliance.
“This engagement, perhaps, should be the last time we
will have to discuss the issue of this First Need. For a while now, it’s been a
grey area. Recall that the CAA has sent letters to the airlines about First
Need.
There has not been much compliance by the airlines,”
the director stated.
He expressed concern over airlines’ apparent ignorance
or neglect of the regulation: “The regulations are very clear. One cannot say
for certain if the airlines are intentionally disregarding the regulations or
if there is some miscommunication along the line.
“I met with some station managers who seemed not to be
aware of the regulations. We thought that the right thing to do was to have
this conversation with you to understand what the challenges have been. Why are
we not paying First Need for shorthanded baggage?” he queried.
Achimugu further emphasised the details of the
regulation and the expectations from airlines: “Part 19 of the Civil Aviation
Regulation 2023 makes it clear. If the baggage of a passenger doesn’t arrive
with the passenger, for a domestic airline, the passenger gets N10,000, and you
have seven days to deliver the bag at their address at no cost to the
passenger.
“But because a lot of passengers do not know their
rights, the airlines have been making the passengers come pick up their
luggage. Going forward, you must comply with the regulation,” he told the
airlines.
While acknowledging the efforts of the domestic
carriers, he urged them to uphold global best practices: “You should operate at
world-class standards. I must commend the domestic airlines, for they are
trying. The margins are small, and the airlines have a capacity problem. As an
authority, we try to support the airlines because it is not all the case that
the airlines are wrong. But the regulation must be obeyed,” the director
stated.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Senior Special
Assistant to the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Ifueko Abdulamlik,
clarified that additional compensation may apply in cases of extended delays in
baggage delivery:
“Where the airline delays delivering the baggage for
extended days, the passenger has the right to additional claims, but with
receipt of items bought as a result of their inconvenience from the delayed
baggage.”
Airline representatives appealed to the NCAA to
intervene with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and terminal operators
to address broken infrastructure, especially malfunctioning conveyor belts,
which they say contribute to baggage handling delays.
Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulations outlines
various passenger rights, including entitlements when flights are delayed or
cancelled, passengers are denied boarding due to overbooking, or baggage is
mishandled.
The NCAA said it will begin strict enforcement of the
First Need compensation rule to ensure passengers receive the treatment and
support they deserve in accordance with the law.
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