Minister of Aviation
In its efforts at making Nigerians in diaspora returning home for Christmas and New Year holidays enjoy best of air travel experience this year, the Federal Government has granted African Airlines operating into the country, additional frequencies during the yuletide season.
Africanbusinesstravel.com.ng learnt the decision arrived at to avoid the annual problems of delayed luggage and passengers getting stranded at airports in foreign lands.
It is noted that Nigerian passengers returning home for Christmas and New year or any other festivities, always travel with many baggage which often overwhelm airlines.
Making the decision of the Federal Government known, Director, Consumer Protection, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority,(NCAA), Adamu Abdullahi, in an interview, affirmed that the problem is worsen when the airlines deployed certain type of aircraft that are not big enough to accommodate both passengers and their luggage.
“The International airlines especially the African airlines come into this country with B737’s, B737 even if it is 800 series, it would not carry much luggage, Nigerians travel heavy, you see one passenger carrying 20 bags and he wants to travel along with his bags as checked-in luggage even if you charge him excess he would pay just to make sure he travels along with his baggage; we now have weight and space constraints. So, the way around it is to ensure that whatever additional flights these airlines ask for, they get”.
Already, African airlines like Royal Air Maroc, Egypt Air and some others are said to have been granted permission to operate additional flights and use wide-bodied to cater to their passengers.
According to Abdullahi, NCAA is in the forefront of ensuring that the Ministry of Aviation granted the request so that passengers can have their luggage in time and avoid the commotion that usual occur when their luggage do not accompany them.
“Normally during this period the Ministry considers and gives them permission to fly in with bigger aircraft so even if it is once or twice a week, they can get a wide-bodied into the country most of the luggage will still not come. In addition, some of the airlines like the Royal Air Maroc that we mentioned earlier also requested for cargo flights and these are essentially to carry passengers’ luggage and make sure that they come in time so that the passengers will have their baggage for Christmas or the yuletide season”.
With the concession granted the airlines, Abdullahi is optimistic that the arrangement was strong enough to nip any ugly situation associated with delayed luggage in the bud .
“So, we pray that this time around we are going to see better arrangement and we have taken all the necessary steps to make sure that it doesn’t deteriorate like last year. Because an airline has done wrong it hasn’t brought your luggage along with you so how do you solve the problem? If you beat up the airline staff, It doesn’t solve your problem or how does it solve the problem? if the same aircraft that is now to go back to whatever country to bring your luggage and you block it on the apron and say that aircraft cannot fly or you block their passengers and say they cannot board the aircraft, how does that help your case?”.
Meanwhile, the CPD boss appealed to the passengers to exercise maximum restraints when the issue of delayed luggage occurs and allow the concerned authorities to resolve the matter, adding the that the directorate has its presence at the airport to ensure that passengers’ rights are not infringed upon.
“it is normally better for you to also be responsible, be a responsible passenger at the airport because we are there, we operate even more during the yuletide period and during the night when everyone knows most airline come into this country or leave this country as the case may be,” he said.
“So we will still beg that the passengers; yes, they have rights but they also have responsibilities, they should abide by the rules and regulations that govern your behavior in the airport environment”, he added.
Adamu also urged the airline operators that notwithstanding their challenges, which are known to the authority, they would not be tolerated to give ill-treatment to passengers. He pleaded with the airlines to avail passengers with the right information on time.
“The airlines also have responsibilities in as much as we will do our very best and shield you from passengers, we are the ones who get the bashing always, we also must appeal to all the airlines to do the needful, make sure you carry passengers along with their bags in as much as safety is not involved because when safety is involved Consumer Protection will move back because you have to be safe first before you start talking about rights.
“Therefore, we will continue to appeal to the airlines, carry your passengers along, let them know the problems you have, let them be part of the problem and let them be part of the solution, that way things will be batter for all of us,” Abdullahi said.
