In a bid to curb the reported cases of attacks on airline officials by irate and belligerent passengers, the Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has warned air travellers to desist forthwith or face criminal charges as brutal attacks reported have become prevalent and are embarrassing and discourteous to such affected officials.
General manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, explained that the Authority stated that it undoubtedly recognizes that the operating airlines must at all times uphold the conditions of carriage and contract on each passenger’s ticket but that was no reason for travelers to attack them when there is a window for reporting.
According to the statement, all passengers are conferred with inalienable rights when they are travelling by air and according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs 2015 Part 19), it prescribes minimum rights for air travellers on the occurrence of any of the following – no show and over booking of flight, denied boarding, delay and cancellation of flights.
These rights shall apply without prejudice to a passenger’s right under any applicable law or contract.
However, passengers are not expected to take laws into their hands if and when there are operational hiccups which are capable of truncating air services. All over the world, over booking, denied boarding, delay and cancellations similarly occur in extraneous circumstances.
