NCAA pleas with passengers, cautions airlines as Jet A1 scarcity bites harder
BIODUN AKOMOLAFE
As the scarcity of aviation fuel known as Jet bA1 bites harder causing airline operators in the country to reschedule and cancel flights, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on all affected passengers to exercise restraint even as it warned airline operators to adhere to their Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
Reacting to reports of passengers’ rage and violence from some of the nation’s airports in the last few days, the regulator said the call, became necessary to stop irate passengers from resorting to wanton destruction of certain facilities at the airports.
While it agrees with passengers that the conditions of carriage on their tickets must be upheld by the operating airlines, NCAA reiterated, that has to play its statutory roles as a regulator as it said, “it is our statutory responsibility to ensure that passengers derive value for their money”.
It added, “NCAA is well primed to ensure that all aggrieved passengers’ complaints are professionally handled by our Consumer Protection Officers. These include flight cancellations, delays, missing baggage, denied boarding etc”.
Confirming the difficulties created by the scarcity of JetA1 in the industry, the NCAA’s spokesperson, Sam Adurogboye in a statement said, “However, the Authority wishes to inform all passengers that it is well aware of the prevailing scarcity of Jet A1 which has inevitably led to flight cancellations and delays by the airlines.
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has also taken cognizance of concerted efforts being made by the airlines to ensure that all passengers are ferried without any hitches.”
Adding that, “the Federal Government of Nigeria is already engaging all the stakeholders involved with the procurement and distribution of aviation fuel to ensure availability in earnest”.
The regulatory authority therefore enjoined passengers to exercise caution while expressing their grievances as the airlines are grappling with the challenges thrown up by the non- availability of Jet A1.
Warning airlines on compliance to their Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs), it said, “On the other hand, the airline operators must ensure they adhere strictly to the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in their operations. Passengers must be informed of any development concerning their flights well ahead of time”.
