NCAA warns foreign airlines over maltreatment of Nigerians

• Minister, Turkish chiefs meet, begins freight of passengers’ baggage
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The freighting which commenced week Friday will continue till December 17, 2019 according to NCAA spokesman, Sam Adurogboye.

Consequently, the aviation regulatory body said it expects strict compliance to this remedial programme and warns all operators to ensure Nigerians are not taken for granted by providing safe, secure and efficient service at all times.

Woleshadarenews learnt that with leadership change in NCAA, foreign are said to be jittery as the agency has vowed to go tough on airlines that violate passenger rights.

Turkish Airlines is allegedly notorious for its poor treatment of Nigerian travellers especially when they have to arrive their destinations without their checked-in luggage.

Last week’s threat by the agency to sanction Turkish Airlines was applauded by many who felt the agency is now living up to the billing.

The action of the agency shows that the new leadership under Acting Director-General, Captain Abdullahi Sidi is trying to reposition the agency to meet the expectations and protection of travelers.

NCAA’s Director-General had threatened that the airline would not be allowed to operate if it does not fly with the right size of aircraft that can transport all passengers with their baggage at the same time.

The NCAA DG said recent flights operated by the airline left behind the baggage of about 85 per cent of the passengers on board.

In a twinkle of an eye, the carrier hurriedly complied with the directive and deployed a bigger aircraft, an Airbus 330 to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, rather than the previous Boeing 737 it used for the route.

The use of the B737, which is a smaller aircraft with a maximum capacity of 150 passengers, caused hardship to passengers whose luggage were consistently left behind in Istanbul, Turkey by the airline.

A source who works with a foreign carrier but pleaded anonymity said, “These foreign airlines do not like Nigerians, they only love our money. That is the more reason they operate some aircraft with less capacity for luggage on the route. At times they look down on us because we do not have our own national airline”.

“The NCAA needs to sit up to protect Nigerians. Kudos to them and the Minister for Aviation for looking Turkish Airlines in the eyes to tell them to do the right thing. Like the speed of light, they complied within 24 hours. That has brought respectability to Nigerians. This is what I call leadership”.

Former Commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Grp. Cpt. John Ojiutu (Rtd) carpeted Turkish Airlines by violating the BASA by operating an aircraft lower in capacity than what the treaty permits.

“There could be airlines behaving in similar manner. Thanks to the new man in NCAA now working with his two eyes wide open”.

Nigeria is a very lucrative route for foreign airlines. Inside the fuselage of many foreign airlines are Nigerians. Business Class and First-Class cabins are sold out on virtually all flights.

During high seasons, hardly can one get seat on popular routes like London, Frankfurt, Atlanta, Amsterdam. Virtually all European, United States, Gulf carriers smile to the Bank because of the high yield the route gives to them.

Air fares are much on the high side because of demand that has outstripped supply. Fares charged by foreign airlines are twice what is charged from London to Accra which is same equidistance. The Nigerian market can in no way be compared with the Ghanaian market obviously because Nigerians are very mobile people coupled with the huge population of nearly 200 million.

Nigerians love to travel in class and are ready to spend big to get their money’s worth. Failure to give them what they want and inability to accommodate their many luggage will always draw their ire.

To show how juicy the country’s route is many of the foreign carriers would fall over themselves to do multiple destinations. This is not helped by inability of domestic airlines to reciprocate the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) Nigeria has with many countries around the globe.

Over 70 per cent of the total revenue generated in Nigeria’s aviation sector comes from international airlines operating in Nigeria, operators in the industry have said.

For instance, British Airways operate to Lagos and Abuja from London. Lufthansa, Ethiopian Airlines, also fly to the two cities. Emirates operates two flights into Lagos from Dubai and one flight to Abuja.

Wole Shadare