Despite the federal government’s effort to ensure on time travel for air passengers across the nation’s airports, Air Peace is the latest airline to flout the government’s directive by delaying Abuja-bound passengers for over three hours on Monday evening.
The passengers who were visibly angry also complained that the airline refused to give adequate information to stranded passengers while the delay lasted.
It will be recalls that the minister of aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika had in July, 2021 warned that airline operators in the country must refund the full cost of travel tickets to passengers after a two-hour delay.
He said: “On domestic flights, delays beyond one hour, the carrier should provide refreshment, and one telephone call, or one SMS, or one e-mail. They should send you an SMS or email or call you to say, ‘I am sorry, I am delaying for one hour’.
“Delay for two hours and beyond, the carrier shall reimburse passengers the full volume of their tickets.”
“Delay between 10pm and 4am, carrier shall provide hotel accommodation, refreshment, meal, two free calls, SMS, email and transport to-and-fro airport.’’
The minister, who maintained that the same rules apply for international flights, said his ministry had started sanctioning some airlines that defaulted and urged passengers not to be unruly at airports.”