Aviation mulls mobile courts, extending operational hours of sunset airports
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Aviation authorities are planning to establish mobile courts at airports to try disruptive passengers whose number has been on the rise in recent years particularly over flight delays or concellations.
Some passengers protesting against flight delays or cancellations sometimes resort to physical attacks on airline and airport workers or disrupt airport facilities.
Both the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) frown at the attitude and, as part of their response, have agreed to extend airport operational hours to 10pm at sunset airports.
Sunset airports are those operating between the hours of 7am and 7pm due to the absence of night flight facilities.
Most times when there are delays at destination airports, especially for flights from Lagos and Abuja, most airports without 24-hour operation suffer cancellation with passengers getting agitated.
Daily Trust reports that a stakeholders’ meeting convened by NCAA to tackle flight disruptions, held at NCAA Annex in Lagos, agreed that airport operational hours would be extended to 10pm for sunset airports with adequate facilities.
The meeting was attended by FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku, representatives of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) led by its Vice-President, Allen Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace.
A communique issued after meeting signed by NCAA Public Affairs and Consumer Protection Director, Michael Achimugu, recounted that stakeholders condemned the rising incidents of unruly behaviour by passengers who sometimes beat up airline staff over flight delays or cancellations.
Sensitisation campaigns against such behaviour would be jointly conducted by the NCAA and FAAN backed by a public statement.
“AVSEC officials are to deploy promptly during passenger agitations at the airports and de-escalate aggression professionally,” the communique added.
“Efforts are underway with local leaders to address waste management and other environmental issues near airports, to help reduce bird strike risks.
“Unauthorised access to tarmacs will not be tolerated, and stricter security measures will be enforced.”
The communique also disclosed
- airlines are advised to optimise/trim their flight schedules to a manageable size and maintain standby aircraft to manage Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations.
- it was agreed that weather forecasts from NiMET should be utilised for better flight scheduling.
- the meeting encouraged airlines to collaborate on luggage and passenger handling, (re-protection) following the example of Ibom Air’s partnerships.
“Passengers should be informed formally when luggage is removed due to space or weight limitations.”
Airlines expressed concerns over negative media narratives and called for investigations into defamatory reporting.
“Passengers must be educated on weather-related disruptions and their implications on flight schedules.
“Airlines must during disruptions mandatorily provide information, CARE, refreshments, rerouting options and hotel accommodation as applicable and process all passenger refunds for tickets as stipulated by Nig. CARs 2023 Part 19 (immediately for cash purchase and within two weeks for online purchases), as mandated by the DGCA.
“Delayed/loss/missing/ pilfered luggage complaints must be addressed speedily with appropriate compensation offered.”
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