… They Were Not Abandoned But Came Late To Check-In Counters—Airline
Air Meridian, an Italian carrier today abandoned 40 passengers at the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos by the airline.
The passengers, it was gathered consist of males, females, children and minors, were prevented from checking in by the airline ground staff, reasons best known to them.
But, the ground staff of the airline refused to communicate with the passengers on why they were not airlifted by the airline.
It was also gathered that some of the stranded passengers had come from Edo, Delta, Abia, Anambra States and others with the hope of catching flight to Milan, the airline’s base on Tuesday, but were disappointed for being left behind by the airline.
A source close to the terminal alleged that the flight was over-booked and the profilers seized the opportunity to collect some tips from some of the passengers in order to be checked- in and fly with the flight.
One of the affected passengers, Mrs. Justina Eghaghe Otaniyen from Benin, Edo State, lamented that she arrived the airport as early as 12noon for the 2:40pm flight to Milan, but was not airlifted by the airline despite arriving early.
According to her, when the affected passengers visited the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to lodge their complaints, the affected passengers were directed to send an email message to the airline for rebook and missed of flight.
She narrated that after the email messages, she said that NCAA officials at the airport informed them that they would only be airlifted on March 31, 2017, stressing that no arrangement was made for them by the airline.
Air Meridien operates into Lagos twice weekly; Tuesdays and Thursdays.
At the airline counters at MMA,Lagos,the airline’s counters were closed.
According to Otaniyen “I arrived here at 12:21pm for a 2:40pm flight. As at the time I got here, the passengers were still being checked-in, but all of a sudden, the airline stopped checking us in and refused to collect our luggage. But, an official of the airline later allowed some of the passengers to check in even those that came after us.”
She continued, “I leave in Benin and I’ve been in Lagos since Monday; I even paid for hotel accommodation, but now, I don’t have anywhere else to go. As I am talking to you now, the airline has closed its counters. We immediately went to the CPD of NCAA, who directed us to send the airline an email stating that we missed our flights even when we didn’t. I don’t know why they are treating us like this in our won country. They don’t even have the courtesy of telling us what happened and any arrangement they have for us. I don’t have anywhere to go now because an official of NCAA told us to come back on March 31.”
Reacting, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said, “About 14 Meridiana passengers came to CP desk to complain that the airline denied them check-in.
NCAA explained that when contacted as to the reason why these passengers were denied Check- in , Duty Manager, Meridian, Mr Kabiru( informed that the passengers came late to the check-in counter as counter opened since 08:30hrs and closed at 13:00hrs even though the counter was supposed to be statutorily closed at 12:30hrs.
Kabiru according to NCAA came to address the passengers from the Boarding Gates after the flight Departure and informed them that they should forward their details to the airline office at Milan for flight Rescheduling Charges free through an email: callcentre@meridiana.com.
NCAA said that the Duty Manager assured them they will be rescheduled on request through the email.
He further stated that he had educated their passengers who normally come direct to catch their Flights from Benin Edo state or outside Lagos of the need to come to Lagos at least a day before the flight date.
