By Chinelo Obogo
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned domestic and international airlines operating in the country against breaching the Montreal Convention. The Authority said any airline that defaults especially as regards the law on baggage compensation and passenger protection will be sanctioned.
The Authority said that the Montreal Convention which is a global treaty signed in 1999, unifies international rules on the liability of airlines and covers areas such as passenger injury or death, baggage and cargo loss or damage, and flight delays, ensuring fairness in air travel claims. The NCAA said that Nigeria is a signatory to the Montreal Convention and has domesticated the treaty through the Civil Aviation Act (CAA) 2022 and as such, all operators are expected to adhere to its provisions when dealing with passengers and their property.
The Authority in a notification sent to all the airlines stated that domestic carriers can no longer rely on outdated conventions such as the Warsaw Convention or use baggage weight as a benchmark for compensation. The Director General NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo said: “Domestic operators must desist from applying the outdated Warsaw Convention or calculating compensation based on baggage weight. Such practices violate the Civil Aviation Act and will attract severe penalties.”
The Authority also noted that the Civil Aviation Act (CAA) 2022 and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 are the legal frameworks governing aviation in Nigeria and reiterated that strict compliance is mandatory, especially concerning passenger rights, airline liability, and safety standards, warning that airlines that do not comply will face the consequences. “Any airline that fails to apply the correct legal framework when addressing passenger or baggage issues will be heavily penalized going forward. The NCAA will not tolerate any deviation from globally accepted standards set by the Montreal Convention. Passengers have a right to compensation in cases of delay, loss, or damage under the Montreal Convention. Airlines must ensure compliance at all times,” the DG said.
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