Airlines Must Refund Airfares After Two-Hour Delay – Minister of Aviation

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has directed airlines to refund the full cost of travel tickets to passengers after two hour delay, among other consumer rights breaches.

The minister stated this yesterday while fielding questions at a ministerial press briefing organised by the Presidential Communication Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Sirika, who read some of the rights of aviation passengers, challenged them to demand their rights when trampled upon by airlines as he highlighted them.

“On domestic flights, delay beyond one hour; carrier shall provide refreshment, make one phone call or one SMS or email. They should send you an SMS or call you to say, ‘I’m sorry you are delayed for one hour’. They should also give you water or Fanta.

“Delay for two hours and beyond, the carrier shall reimburse passengers the full value of the tickets. Delay between 10pm to 4am, carrier shall provide hotel accommodation, refreshment, meal, two free calls, SMS, email and transport to and from the airport and international, it also says all of the requirements.”

He said the same rules apply for international flights.

Sirika said his ministry had started sanctioning defaulting airlines and implored passengers not to be unruly at airports.

He also said the debts owed by airlines and other companies in the country to federal agencies under his ministry have hit N37 billion.

-DailyTrust