The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned domestic airlines against telling passengers that ticket refunds take up to four weeks, stressing that such claims violate aviation regulations.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at the NCAA, made the announcement on Monday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to the Authority, Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023 mandates that airlines must process and complete passenger ticket refunds within 14 days of a request. “The NCAA regulations are clear about the timeframe for ticket refunds, and it is 14 days. Operators cannot create a different rule in this regard,” the statement said.
The warning follows complaints from passengers claiming that some domestic airlines routinely cite a one-month processing period. The NCAA emphasised that airlines must follow its rules, noting that “there cannot be two captains in command on an aircraft.”
Achimugu further stressed that the Authority will not tolerate actions that undermine its regulatory powers or treat passengers unfairly. “Enough of this. We cannot all claim to be working for the improvement of the industry and be duplicating rules in a manner that undermines the authority and is unfair to passengers,” he said.
