To ensure fairness, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) has  constituted an administrative appeal panel  to look into its finding and report on the discriminatory air fare price fixing by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

The panel, chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice George Adesola Oguntade, is to address the airlines’challenge of  NCAA’s finding and subsequent imposition of penalties and a fine of $235 million on them.

The panel, the Director-General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, explained, will  consider the legality and fairness of NCAA’s investigation, report and findings into British Airways  and Virgin Atlantic Airways’collusion, unfair and anti-competitive practices on the passenger fuel surcharge.

He said NCAA is determined to defend the rights of Nigerian consumers and ensure acceptable business practices and ethics, adding that NCAA will continue to  discourage  and penalise any conduct by any airline  that violates the law and disregards Nigerians, discriminates and exploits or takes undue advantage of them.

Demuren listed other  members  of the team to include Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith,Alhaji Bala Ibn Na’Allah, a former  member of the House of Representatives, who had served on the Aviation Committee,  Kanayo  Oguakwa and Callistus E. Uwakwe, who will serve as Secretary.

Demuren said  of the panel: “ This underscores the fairness of the NCAA process and our desire that the best possible and most impartial evaluation of this extremely important issue occurs and to deepen and sustain the confidence the entire world has reposed in the aviation sector over the past years as we have developed a world class industry.  “ It is also a re-assurance to Nigerians that the NCAA, Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Government  remain focused on protecting their rights, advancing their causes and ensuring that they are not subjected to unscrupulous practices that provide benefit only to specific interests, leaving both the consumers and the industry at large violated,” adding that NCAA welcomes people and entities who have genuine interests in exploring Nigeria’s market and taking advantage of our hospitality and opportunities.”

In a statement, the NCAA helmsman, explained that it  is conscious of its regulatory role in the industry, and took a balanced and objective posture to ensure that the rights of the investigated airlines were respected as well as the interest of Nigerian passengers. 

His  statement is coming as the  British Airways is challenging the regulatory authority’s legal rights to investigate something that happened before its creation, stressing that the British carrier has been confrontational in a letter it wrote challenging its action over the issue.

Demuren said: ” The only possible objective of such a confrontational approach is to condescend to and undermine the regulator.  It, again, demonstrates the repeated and continuing disregard BA has for Nigerian constituted authority and its exclusive desire to ensure that absolutely nothing interferes with its ability to continue to take advantage of our business without the reciprocal regard and deference required. 

Source: http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/business/28640-ncaa-constitutes%C2%A0panel-on-british%2C-virgin-atlantic-airways-%C2%A0%24235m-fine.html