Passenger luggage delay to attract $170, N10,000 fines - NCAA

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has vowed to take tough measures against airlines that delay passengers' luggage.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this while speaking at a roadshow organised by NCAA at the Lagos airport on Monday, November 18.

Achimugu announced that the agency will impose fines of $170 and N10,000 on foreign and local airlines, respectively for delayed passengers' luggage as a first measure to guide against such an act.

"For way too long, Nigerians have been claiming not to know about the existence and the duties of the NCAA. Our duty, which is what we owe Nigerians, is to bring awareness to the industry. The passengers need to become more aware of their rights so that airlines will not continue to cheat them.

The little things about the regulations that the passengers need to know, for instance, if you arrive at an airport and your luggage didn't arrive with you, most passengers do not know that they have a right to demand compensation from the airlines.

If it is a domestic flight, you can walk to the airline's counter to demand for your N10,000 for not bringing your bag with you. For international flights, it is $170. A lot of passengers do not know this thing, but today, we are bringing an end to that circle of ignorance. We are bringing the regulations to Nigerians in an exciting manner."

Achimugu stated that the BCAA website is easily accessible for aggrieved passengers to make complaints against erring airlines.

Air France is said to have the highest number of missing baggage with 2,075 cases among foreign carriers flying into Nigeria followed by KLM with 1,938; Egypt Air, 1,850; Royal Air Maroc, 1,745, British Airways, 1,428; Lufthansa, 1,535; Kenya Airways with 1,346; and Delta Airlines, 1,101.

Others include Qatar Airways, 980; Ethiopian Airlines, 545; Air Cote d'Ivoire, 424; Rwandair, 365; Asky, 290, South African Airways, 77; Air Peace, 49; Africa World Airlines, 35; Taag Angola, 31; and the Middle East with only five missing luggage.

The summary from NCAA further indicated that no fewer than 19,274 passengers' luggage, across all airlines - foreign and local were declared delayed/missing in the first half of 2024.