The NCAA will penalize Turkish Airlines for mistreating stranded passengers at Lagos Airport.
Achimugu said NCAA mediates Turkish Airlines’ dispute with Aviation Unions who picketed its Lagos operations.
Achimugu said the Federal Government and its agencies will spare no efforts to call to order any airline that violates the rights of Nigerian passengers.
NCAA’s Director General, Captain Chris Najomo, initiated reconciliation between Turkish Airlines’ Country Manager and the unions, but the manager’s insolence disrespected the system.
Achimugu said the government will investigate the issue and punish the carrier if guilty.
Achimugu stated that the Federal Government will protect Nigerian passengers’ rights from any airline, foreign or domestic, by addressing infractions on their conditions of operation into the country.
He confirmed hundreds trapped in Turkish Airlines imbroglio, with flights canceled until Thursday.
Achimugu said though the carrier claimed to have communicated with passengers through electronic mail on the on- going hitch concerning its operations into and out of the country, some passengers still turned up at the Lagos Airport.
He said the NCAA is investigating why Turkish Airlines couldn’t operate flights from Lagos Airport due to union picketing and will ensure Nigerian passengers’ rights are protected.
President Tinubu directed NCAA, FAAN, and relevant agencies to protect Nigerian passengers’ rights.
NCAA is talking to Turkish Airlines, but the Country Manager showed insolence to Captain Chris Najomo, banging the table in a shouting match. This behaviour to the NCAA is unacceptable. If the airline is guilty, we’ll enforce regulation Part 17 to punish them appropriately.
Some of the stranded passengers said they came to the airport preparatory for their outward journey oblivious of the challenges surrounding the airline.
They said they travelled from neighbouring states into Lagos , only to be stranded at Lagos Airport.
The passengers reported missing business and family commitments due to their inability to travel as initially scheduled.
They urge the airline to go beyond providing accommodation per NCAA regulations, securing seats on other airlines to meet appointments and schedules.
NLC urged all aviation unions to picket Turkish Airlines in Lagos, with FCT council ready to escalate to Abuja if necessary.
According to the group, Turkish Airlines management had continued its determined bid to exterminate the union, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) from the airline.
It noted that management dismissed seven of eleven union members without benefits, using a disciplinary committee not in line with the conditions negotiated with NUATE.
