Airlines to compensate passengers for delay, cancelled flights: Minister

The Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, on Monday said plans had been concluded to ensure that passengers were compensated for delayed and cancelled flights by airline operators in the country.

Chidoka said this in Abuja at the official inauguration of the Aviation Passengers Service Portal and Helpline Number.

He said the portal was designed to enhance efficiency and provide first hand information on the operations of airlines and the activities of the aviation sector in the country.

 According to him, airline operators will be closely monitored on delayed and cancelled flights through the portal “and the Aviation Commit Initiative” of the ministry.

He added that the Initiative was designed to make the ministry and the airlines to make commitments that would enhance efficiency in the operations of the country’s aviation sector.

Chidoka said: “It is not enough to say that flights are delayed.
“We will make sure that failure to take off after 15 minutes will be considered as delay and after one hour passengers will be entitled to some compensation.
“We will force the airlines to compensate passengers after six hours delay and if there is a delay for 12 hours, airlines will be compelled to provide passengers with accommodation for the night.”
The minister said that the ministry had on its own made commitments to ensure that mails and applications from the airlines were treated within 24 hours.

He added that plans had been concluded to make it mandatory for passengers using Nigerian airports to carry a means of identification.
According to Chidoka, passengers using local flights must either have international passports or driver’s licence or the national identity card.
He said: “What this means is that any passenger that misbehaves at the airport could be refrained from using any aircraft in Nigeria because with the identity, the passenger will not be allowed to get boarding pass.
“Passengers are therefore advised to behave in an orderly manner at the airport and ensure that rules and regulations are obeyed.”
The aviation boss said the creation of the portal was aimed at removing bureaucracy of delaying flights because a signatory was not available.
He said: “With the latest development, approval could be given from anywhere in the world without having to be in the office.
“All airports and airlines across the country now have websites and if you click on any of the airports, you can see departures and arrivals.
“It will show you all airlines that are departing from a particular airport for the day, as well as the hospitals and hotels in the area where the airport is located.”
Chidoka said the portal had a platform for passengers’ complaints, observations and report of corrupt practices at airports.

 Source