The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a strong warning to both local and international airlines operating in the country, insisting on full compliance with the First Need Compensation Policy for passengers affected by short-landed baggage or risk sanctions.

Short-landed baggage refers to checked-in luggage that is mistakenly left behind at the departure airport and arrives on a later flight. According to Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2023, passengers whose baggage is short-landed are entitled to compensation of N10,000 for domestic flights and $170 for international flights to cover basic needs while awaiting their luggage.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, gave this directive through a press statement released to journalists on Monday.

He stated that the Authority would no longer tolerate non-compliance.

?This engagement perhaps should be the last time we will have to discuss the issue of this First Need. For a while now, it?s been a grey area. Recall the CAA has sent letters to the airlines about First Need. There has not been much compliance by the airlines,? the director stated.

He expressed concern over airlines? apparent ignorance or neglect of the regulation:

?The regulations are very clear. One cannot say for certain if the airlines are intentionally disregarding the regulations or if there is some miscommunication along the line. I met with some station managers who seemed not to be aware of the regulations. We thought that the right thing to do is to have this conversation with you to understand what the challenges have been. Why are we not paying First Need for shorthanded baggage?? he queried.

Achimugu further emphasised the details of the regulation and the expectations from airlines:

?Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulation 2023 makes it clear. If the baggage of a passenger doesn?t arrive with the passenger, for a domestic airline, the passenger gets N10,000, and you have seven days to deliver the bag at their address at no cost to the passenger. But because a lot of passengers do not know their rights, the airlines have been making the passengers come pick up their luggage. Going forward, you must comply with the regulation,? he told the airlines.

While acknowledging the efforts of the domestic carriers, he urged them to uphold global best practices:

?You should operate at world world-class standard. I must commend that the domestic airlines are trying. The margins are small and the airlines have a capacity problem. As an authority, we try to support the airlines because it is not all the case that the airlines are wrong. But the regulation must be obeyed,? the director stated.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Senior Special Assistant to the Director General of Civil Aviation, Ifueko Abdulmalik, clarified that additional compensation may apply in cases of extended delays in baggage delivery:

?Where the airline delays delivering the baggage for extended days, the passenger has the right to additional claims but with receipt of items bought as a result of their inconvenience from the delayed baggage.?

Airline representatives appealed to the NCAA to intervene with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and terminal operators to address broken infrastructure, especially malfunctioning conveyor belts, which they say contribute to baggage handling delays.

Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulations outlines various passenger rights, including entitlements when flights are delayed or cancelled, passengers are denied boarding due to overbooking, or baggage is mishandled.

The NCAA said it will begin strict enforcement of the First Need compensation rule to ensure passengers receive the treatment and support they deserve in accordance with the law. (The PUNCH)

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