The NCAA also reported on the issue of missing baggage. Of the 430 reported missing items, a remarkable 429 were found, representing 99.77% of baggage recovery.
BY ANTHONY OMOH
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) resolved no fewer than 981 cases and provided compensation from January to December 2024. According to the industry regulator’s Executive Summary, a total of 2,184 complaints were received, including 854 reports of pilferage and discourtesy. The resolution rate represents 44.98% of cases resolved, a significant portion of the complaints.
In addition to the complaints, the report indicated that 118 air/ramp returns occurred out of 70,543 flights operated in Nigeria’s domestic aviation scene. This equates to a very low 0.167% air/ramp return rate, which is unlikely to raise major safety concerns. The number highlights the efficiency of the industry in handling operations smoothly.
The Executive Summary also detailed passenger complaints against individual airlines. Air Peace had the highest number of complaints, with 232, followed by Arik Air with 203, Aero Contractors with 88, Ibom Air with 131, and Green Africa with 94. Together, these airlines accounted for 748 complaints, which represents approximately 34.3% of the total complaints in the domestic aviation sector.
Regarding the air/ramp return figures, airlines such as Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Arik Air, and Ibom Air saw the highest returns, amounting to a combined total of 85 of the 118 air returns, or approximately 71.2% of air returns. This concentration of returns in a few carriers provides insight into where operational challenges may lie.
On the other hand, Azman Airlines had no air returns in its 145 operations between January and March 2024, when it briefly resumed flights in April and May before ceasing operations. Dana Air, which suspended operations in May, had six air/ramp returns out of 1,446 flights. Meanwhile, XeJet, which commenced commercial operations in November, had zero air/ramp returns after conducting 261 flights.
The NCAA also reported on the issue of missing baggage. Of the 430 reported missing items, a remarkable 429 were found, representing 99.77% of baggage recovery. This high recovery rate indicates effective handling of baggage issues, contributing to a positive passenger experience.
In conclusion, the NCAA’s report for 2024 shows that while there were several complaints, the overall performance of the aviation industry in Nigeria remains strong, especially with respect to air returns and baggage recovery.
