Anguish for stranded Nigerian passengers, NCAA mediates in Turkish Airlines, union’s feud

…Carrier risks sanction

Scores of Nigerian travellers both in Nigeria and Istanbul, Turkey have been left stranded for more than three days since the picketing of Turkish Airlines began three days ago.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday commenced the picketing of Turkish Airlines in Lagos in a bid for the carrier to reinstate staff that were dismissed, forced to abandon duty or forced to resign under duress, including those victimised for their union membership in 2020.

Many of the passengers were said to have been left to their fate of lack of accommodation to many who came outside the country to Lagos for their flights while many transit passengers are stuck in Istanbul waiting for the end of the industrial action that had paralysed activities of the carrier in Nigeria.

Worried by the situation, the Nigerian Civil Authority of Nigeria (NCAA) has waded into the matter to find an urgent resolution to the stand-off between the carrier and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) an affiliate body of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

Meanwhile, the NCAA has expressed disappointment with the behaviour of the country manager of Turkish Airlines who was said to have been disrespectful and violent when the aviation regulatory body invited him yesterday to find a solution to the imbroglio.

At a media briefing at the Lagos office of the NCAA, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu said the agency may sanction the airline if it is found trampling on the rights of Nigerian passengers as enshrined in Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulation.

Part 19 of the civil aviation regulation deals with passengers’ rights and responsibilities; and the obligations of airlines, travel agents, and tour operators to passengers.

This part addresses consumer protection issues, including, assistance for persons with reduced mobility, assistance to aircraft accident victims and their families, compensation for denied boarding, delayed or lost baggage, and delays and cancellations of flights.

Achimugu disclosed that President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, Director of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo and the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were concerned with the passengers’ plight; hence, the need to resolve the issue.

He said, “Because of this, the NCAA consumer protection dept called a meeting today (Yesterday) and invited Turkish to find out the cause of the problems and what happens next to the stranded passengers. During this meeting, Turkish explained the issues between the airline and the unions. There have been disagreements as to how to resolve the conflict between both parties. However, negotiations are still ongoing. The NCAA has agreed to mediate between the airline and the unions 9.am on Thursday.”

“However, as regards the stranded passengers, the DG NCAA has instructed Turkish Airlines to cater to the stranded passengers by providing them with accommodation and where they fail to find accommodation, monetise same.”

“During this meeting as well, there has been some unruly behaviour of the Country Manager of Turkish Airlines. While the NCAA strongly condemn such behaviour, we will continue to mediate as impartial umpires because, at the end of the day, the biggest concern is the plight of the passengers who are stranded.”

The airline’s country manager was violent; he was shouting and banging on our desk. It took the DG CAA to bring the situation under control from the UK because the DG attended this meeting virtually. That behaviour gave us a little insight into what may be the plight of Nigerian passengers because if you treat your regulator that way, what about helpless passengers, especially outside Nigeria.”

Wole Shadare