The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a penalty of ₦5 million on Qatar Airways for violating consumer protection regulations. The announcement was made by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, who stated that the airline had committed infractions related to consumer protection.
The fine is a result of an incident involving a Nigerian passenger who was accused of sexual harassment by a Qatar Airways cabin crew member during boarding in Lagos for a flight to the United States via Doha. The allegation was only reported in Doha, where the passenger was arrested, detained for 18 hours, fined, and compelled to sign a document written solely in Arabic. Qatar Airways allegedly refused to continue the passenger’s journey, forcing him to purchase another ticket at considerable financial and reputational cost.
The NCAA had invited Qatar Airways’ country manager to a meeting over the incident, but he failed to attend, sending subordinates instead. This lack of response and compliance with the NCAA’s directives has been a recurring issue, with the regulator accusing Qatar Airways of mistreating Nigerian passengers and failing to comply with consumer protection regulations under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023. In September, the NCAA threatened stiff penalties against the airline for repeatedly disregarding its directives.
The NCAA’s sanctions against Qatar Airways are aimed at enforcing consumer protection regulations in Nigeria. According to Achimugu, some countries do not have advanced aviation consumer protection regulations, which can lead to airlines operating out of those countries acting with disdain towards consumer protection enforcement in Nigeria. The NCAA has emphasized that it is against the law for any airline not to respond to the regulator, provide false information, or fail to comply with the provisions of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
The imposition of the penalty on Qatar Airways serves as a reminder of the NCAA’s commitment to protecting the rights of air passengers in Nigeria. The regulator’s actions are significant, as they demonstrate its efforts to ensure that airlines operating in the country comply with consumer protection regulations. The penalty may lead to further sanctions if Qatar Airways does not satisfactorily address the outstanding cases. The NCAA’s move is expected to promote a safer and more respectful air travel experience for Nigerian passengers.