The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern reminder to local airlines, prohibiting them from informing travelers that ticket refunds require up to four weeks to be processed. This practice directly contravenes established aviation guidelines.
Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, conveyed this message on Monday through his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
As outlined in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, airlines are mandated to finalize passenger ticket refunds within a strict 14-day period following the refund request.
“The refund timeline is explicitly set at 14 days by NCAA regulations. Airlines are not authorized to impose alternative timelines,” the announcement emphasized.
This directive responds to increasing grievances from ncaa-bans-flight-mode-requires-phone-shutdown-takeoff-landing/” title=”Breaking: … Bans Flight Mode, Orders Full Shutdown of Phones During Take-Off, Landing”>passengers who report that some domestic carriers claim refund processing can extend to a month. The NCAA underscored that just as a single pilot commands an aircraft, only the Authority’s regulations govern airline operations-no conflicting rules are permissible.
Achimugu stressed the Authority’s commitment to upholding regulatory integrity and protecting passenger rights. “It is unacceptable for any party to undermine our regulations or treat passengers unjustly under the guise of industry improvement,” he stated firmly.
Travelers encountering airlines that insist on a 30-day refund window are encouraged to report such violations promptly. Complaints can be sent to michael[email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] for immediate attention.
