…Vows To Prosecute Destructive Passengers Henceforth
…To Also Blacklist, Place On Travel Ban
…Says Acute Jet -A1 Scarcity Hits Aviation Industry
…Flight Delays, Cancellations Expected
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) condemns, in very strong terms, the attack on the property of Dana Air by passengers whose scheduled flights were affected by the grounding of the airline for operational audit.
A statement issued by AON Spokesman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo recalled that Dana Air passengers had on July 21, 2022, physically descended on and damaged, the company’s property at the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport(MMA), Lagos, over the unexpected and unintended cancellation of their flight in what is now a force majure.
Dana Air is currently undergoing an operational audit as ordered by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“We understand that Dana Air, as a responsible member of this association, had activated its feedback mechanism to inform passengers of the development and the cancellation of their flight.
“However, it is un-civilised for passengers to take laws into their hands by destroying Dana Air property when there are approved mechanisms for redress.
“As an association, AON will no longer watch passengers destroy property of its affiliate members without adequate response.
“Henceforth, AON shall activate all available legal avenues to ensure that passengers caught destroying property of her members are brought to book and made to pay for such destructions.” Okonkwo said
AON reminded consumers of the services of its members that no law permits the destruction of company property, and, or, physical assault on airline staff, as redress.
According to Okonkwo, “We make bold to say that such actions will be pursued from both criminal and civil law perspectives and may also include blacklisting and travel ban on member airlines.
We encourage aggrieved passengers to explore NCAA approved avenues for redress, including options at Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC), as the airline staff that are assaulted, and property that is damaged, cannot make up for whatever is the unintended consequence(s) of flight cancellations or delays.
The AON spokesman said that to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Meanwhile, the AON image maker also notified the members of the public, especially, consumers of air transport services in the country, that the aviation sector has been hit by a major crisis with the acute scarcity of aviation fuel otherwise known as Jet-A1.
He hinted that for this reason, there will be major disruptions in scheduled flight operations including cancellations and unnecessary delays across all airports in the country.
This, he said is a foreseen but unintended consequence of the aviation fuel scarcity in the country.
He pleaded for the understanding of the travelling public to bear with its members as efforts are currently being made to address the development and restore normal flight operations.
AON, he said is committed to rendering seamless and uninterrupted air transport service across the country.
