Nigeria to introduce Generous Mandated Delay Compensation for air travellers

*The Federal Government is introducing new regulations in the country’s aviation industry so that airlines are held accountable for flight delays in domestic services

*Consumers deserve to receive the services they pay for, or to get their money back when they don’t, says Pete Buttigieg, US Department of Transportation Secretary

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In line with the globally acceptable standard practice, the Nigerian Government has disclosed plans to introduce new regulations regarding delay compensation for aviation product and service consumers.

ConsumerConnect gathered the new system would see air passengers entitled to refreshments after an hour’s delay, and a full refund of money after two hours.

Similarly, any overnight delays will also see hotel accommodation provided for affected consumers, as the country’s domestic travel has gained a bad reputation for a lack of punctuality in flight operations, report said.

Hadi Sirika, Honourable Minister for Aviation

Such flights will have generous delay compensation policies.

In connection with the generous rules contained in the fresh regulations, Hadi Sirika, Honourable Minister for Aviation, laid out the new regulations for delay compensation concerning domestic flights in Nigeria Thursday, July 8, 2021.

The Minister, who stated this while speaking at the weekly State House briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, FCT, encouraged passengers to remind airlines of their rights, rather than let themselves be ‘trampled upon’ during delays.

On possible reasons for delays, airlines reportedly have cited factors as the rising fuel costs and lack of parking space for the delays at the airports.

Nonetheless, Sirika via the new regulations desires that such airlines be held accountable for such delays in domestic services.

The Minister further explained: “On domestic flights delayed beyond one hour, carriers should provide refreshment, and should send you an SMS or e-mail, or call you to say ‘I am sorry, I am delaying for one hour.’

“(For a) delay of two hours and beyond, the carrier shall reimburse passengers the full volume of their tickets.”

Nigeria’s new compensation system is considered a rather generous one in terms of what passengers get and after a relatively short period of time.

Of course, the fact that it concerns domestic flights is a key factor. After all, for these shorter journeys, a two-hour delay will generally be longer than the flight itself, SimpleFlying report said.

However, passengers on international flights are also entitled to further compensation under the new system if their delay forces an overnight stay.

According to Sirika, “(For) delays between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., carriers shall provide hotel accommodation, refreshment, a meal, two free calls, SMS, email, and transport to and from the airport.”

Compensation alteration in the US

Nigeria is not the only country to have recently put forward plans to overhaul its compensation systems for airline passengers, according to report.

The United States Government is equally hoping to pass a similar legislation regarding delayed baggage in the country.

It was gathered the Department of Transportation (DoT) plans to make airlines liable to refund baggage fees if passengers’ luggage is delayed by over 12 hours domestically, and 25 hours internationally.

They will also have to refund passengers if they cannot provide ancillary services like Wi-Fi despite passengers paying.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated: “Consumers deserve to receive the services they pay for or to get their money back when they don’t.

“This proposed rule would require airlines to refund fees to passengers whose bags are significantly delayed or who don’t receive the services that they paid for.”

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