AfriPulse
June 26 (THEWILL) — The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a ₦6 million sanction on Saudi Airlines for violating consumer protection regulations, following what the regulator described as repeated infractions affecting passengers travelling to and from Nigeria.
The NCAA announced the sanction in a notice issued on Friday, with the authority stating that the penalty became necessary after the airline failed to adequately address several outstanding consumer protection issues despite being granted sufficient time to do so.
According to the NCAA, it had previously intervened to support Saudi Airlines during a passenger crisis at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a few months ago, helping to avert a breakdown of law and order. The regulator said it subsequently extended a grace period to allow the airline to resolve pending complaints and comply with determinations made by the Civil Aviation Authority.
However, the authority said the airline’s continued failure to meet its obligations left it with no option but to invoke the provisions of Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2023, which governs consumer protection and the rights of air travellers.
“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has sanctioned Saudi Airlines to the tune of six million naira for consumer protection-related infractions”, the notice stated.
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The NCAA stressed that the action was intended not only to enforce compliance with existing regulations but also to encourage the airline to improve its operations in Nigeria significantly.
It emphasised that passengers paying for air travel deserve to be treated fairly, respectfully and in accordance with established consumer protection standards.
“Paying passengers travelling to and from Nigeria need to feel protected and respected by the carrier”, the authority said.
While imposing the financial penalty, the NCAA reiterated its commitment to working with Saudi Airlines and other operators to ensure efficient, safe and customer-focused aviation services.
“The NCAA will continue to support Saudi and every other airline to operate at optimal capacity”, the regulator added.
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