Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a sixty (60) days ultimatum which commenced from 7th May, 2019 to all IATA accredited agents to register and obtain NCAA’s Certificate of Registration stating that its is a violation for travel agents not to be registered with the body.
This is just as the NCAA has directed IATA not to accredit forthwith, any agency without NCAA’s Certificate of Registration.
The regulator made this declaration against the backdrop of controversy that there is the absence of legislation concerning the registration of travel agencies operating in Nigeria.
The NCAA in a statement signed by GM, Public Relations, Sam Adurogboye read: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) confers power on NCAA to register and issue certificates to travel agencies without which no travel agency shall operate in Nigeria.
“Part 18.9.1 (iii) of (Nig.CARs) unequivocally and incontrovertibly states that no person shall undertake the business of travel agency in Nigeria without obtaining a Certificate or License issued by the NCAA.
“As a corollary to this, Part 18.9.4.1 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) 2015 states that all travel agencies shall register with the Authority after fulfilling the necessary requirements specified in IS18.9.1.2 (iii) to these regulations.
“The Civil Aviation Act. 2006, Part IX, Section 30 (4) (a) inter-alia empowers the Authority to regulate, supervise and monitor the activities of Travel and other Aviation Agents operating in Nigeria.
To join the IATA BSP, Part 18.9.4.2. of the NCARs states that All registered Travel Agencies shall join and trade on IATA BSP Platform.
It is important to note that the fulfillment of the aforementioned regulation Part 18.9.4.1 is a mandatory requirement for IATA to accept a travel agency on its BSP platform. However, it is after registration that a Travel Agent can commence business on the IATA BSP platform.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is therefore taking concerted steps to instill sanity and orderliness into the operations of travel agencies in Nigeria.
The Authority will be collaborating with IATA to provide a robust regulatory oversight on this sector of aviation downstream operations.
All IATA accredited agents have sixty (60) days within which to register and obtain NCAA’s Certificate of Registration. This ultimatum commenced from 7th May, 2019.
On the strength of this, IATA has been directed not to accredit forthwith any agency without NCAA’s Certificate of Registration.
Therefore, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will continue to carry out its regulatory oversight in all facets of air transport operations with all the seriousness that is required.
