* Logo Source: The Eagle Online
…Asks Airline To Compensate Each Passenger With $150
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has waded into the Arik Air un-ending passengers’ luggage crisis by directing the embattled airline to ensure the delivery of passengers’ luggage within 24 hours and to also pay S150 compensation to each passenger in accordance with the provisions of Montreal convention.
The directive is coming on the heels of Arik Air inability to ferry passengers’ luggage since Friday December,2, 2016, when the aircraft landed at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
This was disclosed by the Director Consumer Protection Directorate, NCAA Mr Abdullahi Adamu, in a brief telephone interview with abelnewsng.com today.
He explained that the airline has violated the Montreal convention of 1999.
Abdullahi explained that under normal circumstances, the passengers ought to have arrived with their luggage but regretted that over two days after arrival, their luggage were yet to arrive.
According to him, “The compensation for delayed luggage according to Montreal Convention of 1999 is $150, Arik has failed in its duty because that compensation should have come the moment the passenger lands without his bag. They have not done that and they are agreeing with the passengers who agreed to waived part of his right to collect S150 as against to S150”
He continued, “We have also directed Arik to bring in the balance of their luggage for all passengers in the next 24 hours, we have written Arik in that direction and they are complying but that does not stop sanction because violation has taken place.”
Abdullahi, who described the action of the airline as a national embarrassment appealed to passengers to bear with NCAA assuring that the airline will definitely pay for the consequences of its action.
He warned airlines both domestic and foreign that sanction will be meted out to them in the case of luggage default.
At the time of filing this report, arrangement was being made to get launch and accommodation for the stranded passengers.
At the departure terminal, Arik Air’s officials were nowhere to be found, as they all disappeared for fear of being mobbed by angry passengers.
However, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engr. Saleh Dunoma led other airport officials to calm down the irate passengers, who threatened to deal with Arik staff on site.
Similarly, a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr Sam Adurogboye stated that the regulatory body also in line with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) 2015, part 19, directed that all passengers with short landed baggage must be offered care and compensation in line with part 19. 17. 2.1 (b) of the Regulation.
The regulatory body also asked that a compliance report including but not limited to the list of affected passengers, details of passengers handling should be forwarded to the authority within 96 hours from the receipt of the letter from the authority.
However, to prevent a breakdown of law and order, the airline has stationed a Police vehicle in front of its main gate following threats by angry passengers to besiege the headquarters of the embattled airline
