The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed airlines operating in the country to ensure they compensate passengers for short-landed luggage.
“All domestic and international airlines operating in the country must comply with the First-Need Compensation regulation in cases where passengers’ luggage is short-landed,” the NCAA said.
Short-landed baggage, according to the NCAA refers to checked-in luggage that fails to arrive with passengers at their destinations but is instead delivered on a later flight.
According to Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR) 2023, affected domestic passengers are due for a compensation of ₦10,000, while international passengers are supposed to receive a sum of $170.
“The compensation is intended to help passengers purchase essential items while awaiting the arrival of their delayed baggage,” the NCAR stated.
“For international airlines, if the compensation outlined in their terms of carriage is not paid promptly, a default payment of $170 becomes mandatory, without any deductions.”
Meanwhile, Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja with regional managers of domestic airlines, said the Authority would begin imposing sanctions on airlines that fail to comply with the regulation.
“This engagement should be the last time we are discussing the issue of First Need compensation,” Achimugu said.
“The regulations are very clear. The CAA has already sent multiple letters to the airlines, but compliance has been poor.
“Some station managers claim to be unaware of these rules. So we decided to have this meeting to understand where the breakdown has been.”
Achimugu made it clear that if a passenger’s baggage does not arrive on the same flight, the airline must pay the passenger ₦10,000 and deliver the luggage to the passenger’s address within seven days at no additional cost.
“Many passengers are unaware of their rights and are often made to come to the airport to retrieve their baggage themselves, an act that contravenes the regulation,” Achimugu said.
He also called on airlines to comply fully with the regulation, urging them to pay the First-Need compensation to affected passengers before their complaints reach the NCAA.
Achimugu acknowledged the obstacles faced by domestic airlines, such as narrow profit margins and operational constraints, but pointed out that regulations must still be upheld.
