Air Travellers Complain About Missing Bags And Flight Delays

BEVERLY HILLS, April 25, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revealed that cases of missing baggage/pilferage and flight delays and cancellations are the major complaints lodged by both passengers on international and domestic routes in Nigeria.

This was contained in a recent report by the NCAA titled 'summary reports of complaints received against international and domestic airlines for the month of January, February and March 2016.'

The report reveals that Emirates and BA lead in international traffic as a total of 1,282 flights were operated by 35 airlines for the month of January.

For the month of February, a total of 1, 251 flights operated on international routes while 5, 143 flights operated on domestic routes.

The airlines are Aero, African World, Air Cote d'Ivoire, Air France, Alitalia, Altas Air, Arik Air, ASKY, British Airways, Camair-Co, Cronos Air, Dana, Delta Air, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Air, Etihad, Gambia Bird, Iberia, and Kenya Airways.

Others are KLM, Lufthansa, Max Air, Medview, Middle East Airlines, Qatar, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordan, Rwandair, Saudi Air, Sudan Air, South African Airways, Turkish Air, United and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

The report shows that Arik Air tops the list with 205 flights, 96 delays, three cancelled flights recording a total number of 27,791 inbound passengers and 33,055 number of outbound passengers with 28 unresolved complaints and compensation.

Air France had the highest number of complaints over pilferage and discourtesy. A total of 104 cases involving passengers luggage pilfered were reported and documented.

The French carrier had 81 flights in January, 31 delayed flights, no cancelled flights with 133 unresolved complaints and inability to compensate travellers recording a total number of 17, 294 inbound passengers, 18, 197 outbound passengers and 361 missing baggage found.

Emirates Airlines had the highest number of inbound and outbound passengers. The airline recorded 35, 774 inbound passengers and 36, 627 total number of outbound passengers, making the airline the highest revenue earner to Nigeria, followed by British Airways.

In summary, total number of inbound passengers recorded by the 35 carriers stands at 221, 136, while 242, 711 departed the country's airports.

Also, a total number of 1,282 flights were operated on international routes, while 5,399 flights were operated on domestic routes.

Eight domestic airlines are in operations. The carriers operated 5, 399 flights, recorded 3,029 delays, 120 cancelled flights with 346, 579 total number of inbound passengers and 367, 558 total number of outbound passengers.

Story by David Oputah