The Nigerian government has wielded the big stick against airline operating in the country with a directive that they must refund the full cost of travel tickets to passengers after a two-hour delay.
This directive was given on Thursday by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, at the weekly State House Briefing in Aso Villa, Abuja.
The minister spoke against the background of rising cases of delayed or canceled flights by airline operators in the country.
Sirika, who listed the rights and privileges of aviation passengers, charged them to always demand their rights whenever they are being trampled upon by airlines.
“On domestic flights, delay beyond one hour, carrier should provide refreshment, and one telephone call, or one SMS, or one e-mail. They should send you an SMS or email or call you to say, ‘I am sorry, I am delaying for one hour,” the Minister said.
“Delay for two hours and beyond, the carrier shall reimburse passengers the full volume of their tickets.
“Delay between 10pm and 4am, carrier shall provide hotel accommodation, refreshment, meal, two free calls, SMS, email and transport to-and-fro airport,” the minister announced.
While announcing that his ministry has started applying sanctions to some airlines who default on consumer rights, Sirika also asked passengers not to be unruly at airports.
