The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has pledged to impose strict sanctions on Kenya Airways for repeatedly violating aviation regulations in Nigeria. A major issue highlighted by the NCAA is the airline’s refusal to apologize to Nigerian passenger Gloria Omisore, who claimed to have been mistreated by the airline’s staff in Nairobi, Kenya.
In a statement shared on his X handle on Saturday, NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu revealed that Kenya Airways’ Country Manager, James Nganga, was summoned to the NCAA office and admitted that the airline mishandled the situation. Achimugu also noted that the airline’s statement addressing the incident was false, misrepresenting the facts. Despite agreeing to amend the statement to reflect the truth, the airline had not done so by the time of the report.
Kenya Airways officials acknowledged that allowing Omisore, who did not have a France transit visa, to board the flight was a mistake. Beyond this incident, the NCAA also raised other concerns about Kenya Airways, including persistent flight delays and failure to compensate passengers for lost baggage.
The NCAA further stated that the airline had failed to submit a compliance report for a flight delayed by seven hours. When questioned about this, Kenya Airways staff claimed ignorance of NCAA regulations, prompting the NCAA to send them a copy of the relevant guidelines.
To address these issues, the NCAA announced plans to organize a retreat for all airlines operating in Nigeria to review and reinforce their understanding of NCAA Regulations 2023, especially Part 19, which focuses on passenger rights.
The NCAA expressed concern over Kenya Airways’ disregard for regulatory obligations and its poor handling of customer complaints. The authority assured that enforcement actions would proceed through legal channels, with the NCAA’s legal department ensuring compliance. The NCAA reiterated its commitment to safeguarding consumer rights in Nigeria and pledged to take all necessary steps to address the airline’s violations.
It is important to note that Kenya Airways does not have a spokesperson or media office in Nigeria.
