Arik Air Aircraft
… Orders Airline To Pay N6M For Contravening Part.19.7.2 Of NCARs, 2015
…To Compensate Each Passenger With $150
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has finally sanctioned Arik Air, the largest airline in both West and Central Africa for contravening the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
NCAA made this known in an online statement signed by the agency’s General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye today.
NCAA stated that it had been as inundated with complaints of delay and inability to ferry the passengers’ checked – in luggage on the airline’s services from London –Lagos from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th December, 2016.
The regulatory agency stated that upon receipt of the complaints, it invited the airline to a meeting on the 6th of December, 2016, which was duly attended by the airlines’ representative.
However, NCAA added that Arik embarked on continuous flouting of the NCARs and the authority’s directives to freight all backlog of short – landed baggage to Lagos within 48 hours.
The carrier NCAA said declined to offer care and compensation to the affected passengers which were unanimously agreed for $150.
The agency stated that apart from flouting the NCARs and directive, the airline did not also inform the passengers at the soonest practicable time that their checked – in baggage would be off – loaded as required by Part 19.7.2 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs),2015.
Therefore, in a Letter of Sanction with reference no.NCAA/DG/CSLA/RM/1-06/16/439 dated 22nd December, 2016; the authority has determined that Arik Air Limited is in violation of Part 19.7.2 and 19.17.2.1 (ii) of the Nig.CARs, 2015.
Consequent upon these, the following sanctions suffices:-
(A). Arik Air Limited to pay to the authority within Seven (7) days of receipt of this letter, the sum of #6,000,000.00 (Six Million naira only) being civil penalty for violation of Part.19.7.2 of the Nig.CARs, 2015.
(B) Arik Air is hereby directed to pay each affected passenger, within 30 days of the date of this letter, the sum of $150 as compensation for inconveniences suffered as a result of delayed arrival of their luggage on your service as required by Part.19.17.2.1 (ii) of the NCARs, 2015.
The regulatory body stated that it expects the airline to comply strictly with the provisions of Part 19 of NCARs by the airline in future.
NCAA assured stakeholders that the authority exists to protect their rights at all times and as such any violation of the Regulation in that regard will be viewed seriously.
