Airlines to refund 100% airfare to passengers after two-hour delay

The Federal Government has made it mandatory for airline operators in Nigeria to refund passengers their money after a two-hour delay.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this on Thursday at the weekly State House Briefing in Aso Villa, Abuja.

The minister charged aviation passengers to demand their rights when abused by airline companies.

“On domestic flights, when there’s a delay 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’.

“When the delay is for two hours and beyond, the carrier shall reimburse passengers the full volume of their tickets. Delays between 10pm and 4am, the carrier shall provide hotel accommodation, refreshment, meal, two free calls, SMS, email and transport to-and-fro airport,” Sirika said.

The minister added that the same rules apply for international flights.

Revealing that his ministry has started sanctioning airlines who default on consumer rights, the minister, however, urged passengers not to be unruly at airports.

In recent times, delays and cancellation of flights have typified inter-city air transportation in Nigeria, with many passengers always lamenting over inconveniences these actions by airlines cause them.