Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has warned that airlines failing to meet flight schedules must compensate affected passengers for cancellations and delays.
Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with ministry agency heads, Keyamo addressed concerns raised by Nigerians regarding flight disruptions, asserting the need to enforce existing laws for compensating affected individuals.
“The law is there and we are looking at how to enforce those laws for compensation of Nigerians who bear the brunt of flight cancellations and disruptions,” Keyamo stated, acknowledging the grievances of passengers.
Highlighting the proposed compensation plan, he explained, “If the reason for the delay and cancellation of flight is their fault, they must pay compensation. And what I am suggesting is that if they don’t get cash back, they must get some rebate when they buy the next ticket.”
To streamline the compensation process, Keyamo announced the formation of a committee tasked with creating a code for passengers to utilize when purchasing subsequent tickets, ensuring fair compensation for affected travelers.
Expressing concern for passenger satisfaction and air travel safety, the minister directed the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to compile a weekly list of canceled flights for monitoring purposes.
Keyamo also urged the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to expedite investigations into recent air incidents, both minor and classified as serious, ensuring submission of comprehensive reports within the next 10 days.
Regarding recent incidents, the NSIB has been tasked with investigating and delivering detailed reports within the stipulated timeframe to ascertain the circumstances surrounding these events, prioritizing passenger safety and transparency in the aviation sector.
