Aero Contractors RefundPassengers N257m in Seven Months

Aero Contractors has refunded a total of N257 million to affected passengers over a seven-month period, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said, signaling stronger enforcement of consumer protection in the aviation sector.

According to the NCAA, the refunds were made for issues such as flight delays, cancellations, cabin class downgrades, short-landed baggage, and other disruptions for which the airline was deemed responsible. The figure indicates Aero Contractors’ compliance with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, which mandates that airlines fairly compensate passengers when operational lapses occur.

NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, described the refunds as part of ongoing efforts to hold airlines accountable and ensure customer rights are respected. He noted that this level of refunding sets a standard for transparency and responsiveness by carriers.

The regulatory body has also imposed sanctions and collected fees from airlines, including Aero Contractors, for violations of passenger rights. These include failure to issue refunds promptly and non-compliance with the regulatory requirements governing passenger disruptions.

Aero Contractors’ proactive approach to resolving complaints and clearing refund backlogs was praised by industry observers, who say the cumulative refund amount is a positive signal for air travellers in Nigeria seeking fair treatment.

By Oshuniran Sheriff Ola