The Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyeama, has publicly admitted that some of his airline staff have violated regulations, a claim highlighted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
According to Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Onyeama made this admission during a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday while accepting enforcement actions taken against Air Peace by the regulatory agency.
Compliance and Accountability
Onyeama reportedly acknowledged instances of infractions by his staff and expressed his commitment to ensuring adherence to NCAA regulations, particularly regarding ticket refunds, which must be processed within the timeframe outlined in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
“I am glad that this has happened. I have warned my team. This shows that the NCAA knows what they are doing. I will always acknowledge it where the fault is ours,” Onyeama was quoted as saying.
Achimugu commended Onyeama for his candor and reaffirmed the NCAA’s dedication to protecting passenger rights.
NCAA Enforcement Actions
Earlier in the week, the NCAA announced enforcement actions against five airlines, including Air Peace and Ethiopian Airlines, for violating regulatory guidelines. Achimugu noted that both airlines had accepted the sanctions and pledged compliance with NCAA regulations moving forward.
In his statement, Achimugu disclosed:
“After the stakeholders’ meeting with domestic operators today in Lagos, Ethiopian Airlines was waiting to discuss the notification of enforcement action issued to their airline. They expressed readiness to comply with NCAA regulations going forward and said they would submit a compliance report by tomorrow.”
A Decade-Long Milestone
Achimugu emphasized that this marked the first time in over a decade that the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department had initiated sanctions against airlines, signaling a shift in the agency’s approach to enforcing compliance.
“It will no longer be business as usual. We will continue to do our duty of protecting both airlines and passengers as impartial umpires,” he added.
Background
The NCAA’s enforcement actions follow numerous customer complaints about flight delays, abrupt cancellations, and delayed refunds by airlines. Air Peace and other carriers have faced criticism on social media for flight delays, poor luggage handling, and subpar customer service.
On December 10, the NCAA issued a warning to airlines, threatening sanctions for failure to process ticket refunds within the stipulated timeframes. The recent enforcement measures aim to hold airlines accountable and improve the overall passenger experience.
