Flight delay/departure: NCAA to inspect all foreign aircraft on Nigerian route,  moves to sanction BA

The late arrival and departure of British Airways flights from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja in the past three to four days has become a huge concern to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Consequently, the aviation regulatory body has contacted the carrier and initiated these frequent delays to establish the root cause of these delays and take appropriate action to ensure passenger rights are protected and also prevent a re-occurrence.

In a letter dated August 30 and signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu and made available to journalists late Friday night disclosed that the investigation will include intensified inspections under the NCAA/ICAO Foreign Aircraft Assessment Programme (FASAP) of all aircraft on the Nigerian route for regulatory compliance.

According to Achimugu, “The travelling public should rest assured that the NCAA will do all within its powers to ensure their rights are protected in support of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development policy to eliminate unnecessary flight delays”.

“The attention of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has been drawn to the late arrivals and subsequent delayed departures of British Airways flights to and from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for about three consecutive days starting from August 27, 2024, which has resulted in many inconveniences to the travelling public..”

Wole Shadare