NCAA slams Arik Air N6m fine, US$150 compensation for passenger rights violation

FOLLOWING the shameful display and ill-treatment meted on passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Arik Air London services from December 2^nd through 4^th, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has fined the airline N6,000,000.00(Six Million naira only).

The regulatory body has also directed the airline to pay each affected passenger, within 30 days of the date of this letter, the sum of One Hundred and Fifty US dollars ($150) as compensation for inconveniences suffered as a result of delayed arrival of their luggage on your service.

These penalties were as a result of the airline contravening the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), violating Part.19.7.2 of the Nig.CARs, 2015 and Part.19.17.2.1 (ii) of the Nig.CARs,2015 respectively.

In a statement made available by the NCAA,  the Authority was inundated with complaints of delay and inability to ferry the passengers’ checked – in luggage on the Airline’s services from London –Lagos from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th December, 2016.

Upon receipt of the complaints, NCAA invited the airline to a meeting on the 6th of December, 2016, which was duly attended by the airlines’ representative.

However, Arik embarked on continuous flouting of the Nig.CARs and the Authority’s directives to freight all backlog of short – landed baggage to Lagos within 48 hours.

Similarly, the carrier declined to offer care and compensation to the affected passengers which were unanimously agreed for One Hundred and fifty United States dollars.

In addition, the airline did not inform the passengers at the soonest practicable time that their checked – in baggage would be off – loaded as required by Part 19.7.2 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs),2015.

Therefore, in a Letter of Sanction with reference no. NCAA/DG/CSLA/RM/1-06/16/439 dated 22nd December, 2016; the Authority has determined that Arik Air Limited is in violation of Part 19.7.2 and 19.17.2.1 (ii) of the Nig.CARs, 2015.

Consequent upon these, the following sanctions suffices:-

1. Arik Air Limited to pay to the Authority within Seven (7) days of receipt of this letter, the sum of #6,000,000.00 (Six Million naira only) being civil penalty for violation of Part.19.7.2 of the Nig.CARs, 2015.
2. Arik Air is hereby directed to pay each affected passenger, within 30 days of the date of this letter, the sum of One Hundred and Fifty thousand US dollars ($150) as compensation for inconveniences suffered as a result of delayed arrival of their luggage on your service as required by Part.19.17.2.1 (ii) of the Nig.CARs,2015.

The NCAA expects strict compliance with the provisions of Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) by the airline in future.

According to the regulators, this is to assure all stakeholders that the Authority exist to protect their rights at all times and as such any violation of the Regulation in that regard will be viewed seriously.