The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has developed a passenger bill of rights in order to penalize local and international airlines for cancelled flights, flight delays, lost baggage amongst other offences towards passengers.

The rules entitled, “Passengers’ Rights Regulations” were disclosed to a forum comprising representatives of local and international airlines as well as other stakeholders.

Harold Demuren, the DG of the NCAA, said the rules would become operational in 30 days in order to give all stakeholders a chance to review them and present their grievances.

Speaking on some of the issues, the NCAA DG said, “the new set of rights applied to passengers departing from an airport located within the Nigerian territory to another airport within the country; passengers departing from an airport located in another country to an airport situated within Nigeria; and to foreign air transportation with respect to non-stop flight segments originating at a point within Nigeria. “

He added, “the rules shall also apply on the condition that a passenger has a confirmed reservation on the flight or has been transferred by an air carrier or tour operator from the flight for which he/she held a reservation to another flight, irrespective of the reason.”