NCAA Chides Arik Air’s over Unfair Treatment of Passengers

Captain Fola Akinkuotu, director general of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Friday frowned at Arik Air over unfair treatment of its Calabar bound passengers who were delayed for more than three hours in Abuja on Thursday.

The DG said that the act by Arik Air was a clear contravention of the Consumer Bill of Rights which attracts sanction.

Akinkuotu also chided passengers for their unruly behaviour aboard the aircraft, saying that it an illegality and punishable under the law.

These observations and warnings were contained in a press release issued by the Director General which stated that: “The attention of the NCAA has been drawn to the unfortunate incident that happened in Abuja on Thursday September 26, 2013”.

“The NCAA finds the handling of the Calabar bound flight and the passenger rights as in total contravention of the NCAA Consumer Bill of Rights. The Calabar bound passengers having been delayed for over three hours in the first instance are entitled to compensation and were unfairly treated. Arik Airlines acted in total breach of the law. Such shabby and total disregard for passenger comfort and rights will not be tolerated and will attract appropriate sanctions”

“Similarly, NCAA finds the action of the passengers against the Arik airplane and the passengers on board same flight as unacceptable and amounts to an act of illegality. It is unlawful and punishable by law. Passengers need to beware and be law-abiding”.

“The NCAA will continue to monitor these infringements and will ensure compliance with the law”, the statement concluded.