ICAO query pushes NCAA to revisit Arik, others’ violations

In keeping with the directive of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) the NCAA is to revisit all cases of violation of aviation regulations by airliners in Nigeria, especially those plying international routes.

This is as a result of a query to the local regulator by ICAO on how it had handled some rule violations in the recent past.

To that effect, all pending queries on foreign and local airlines operating in Nigeria in the past one year will be reviewed, following the review of such cases earlier handled by NCAA.

Specially mentioned are: the undue delay in returning of passengers’ luggage from London route by Arik Air, indefinite cancelation of flights to Dubai by Emirate Airline and diversion of Saudi Arabian bound flight by Ethiopian Airport.

Said an official, it is in furtherance of the directive that NCAA had slammed a fine of N6 million fine on Arik Air and additional $150,000 compensation to each of the passengers whose luggage was delayed in London between December 2 and 5 2016.

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The regulatory body said it would soon come out with appropriate sanction to other airlines whose cases were still being reviewed.

According to its statement on Tuesday, the sanctions would be derived from the provisions as contained in the NCAA 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.

It further states: “NCAA expects strict compliance with the provisions of Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) by all the airlines in future”.

The regulator noted that this is to assure all stakeholders that it will always protect operators’ and passengers’ rights at all times and as such any violation of the regulation will not be tolerated.

But most operators have complained of inadequate working environment in Nigeria, which has seen them deploying some other means to remain afloat.

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