News

Airline operators kick as passengers attack Max Air staff in Abuja

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has condemned the recent attack on the staff of Max Air and the destruction of the airline’s properties by passengers in Abuja due to a flight delay.

The AON, while reiterating that the issues of delay or cancellation of flights can be addressed in a civil manner without resorting to violence, however, apologised to passengers on behalf of Max Air airlines for the delay.

It made this known in a statement issued and made available to The Star on Friday by the AON President, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina.

The AON noted that in Nigeria, 80% of the causes of delays and cancellations are due to factors that are not in the control of airlines, adding that the prevalent causes of delays and cancellations of flights in the country include unavailability and rising cost of aviation fuel, inadequate parking space for aircraft, among others.

The statement read: “The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) hereby condemns in the strongest terms the recent attack by some unruly passengers on staff of Max Air and the wanton destruction of the airline’s properties due to a flight delay.

“The unfortunate development further heightens our deepest concern and worry over the increasingly deplorable state of security and the rising threat to the lives of airline staff and their properties at Nigerian airports.

“Issues of delay or cancellation can be addressed in a civil manner without resorting to violence. The unruly passengers that went after Max Air and destroyed the computer reservation systems further exacerbated the problem for other passengers going to other destinations. Such acts are completely unacceptable.

“AON understands the frustrations whenever a flight is delayed or cancelled and we apologize to passengers on behalf of airlines for such delays or cancellations. It is however instructive to note that delays happen worldwide and there are conditions that cause them.

“In Nigeria, 80% of the causes of delays and cancellations are due to factors that are not in the control of airlines. Airlines operating in Nigeria are forced to operate in an environment that is wrought with infrastructure deficiencies that are highly disruptive to normal schedule reliability and on time performance.

“Some of the more prevalent causes of delays and cancellations include: unavailability and rising cost of Jet A1 (which today costs above N585 per litre in Lagos, N607 in Abuja and Port Harcourt, and N685 in Kano), inadequate parking space for aircraft on the apron sometimes leading to ground accidents, inadequate screening and exit points at departure, inefficient passenger access and facilitation, natural and unforeseen circumstances such as weather and catastrophic failures (e.g. bird strikes & component failures), and restrictions caused by sunset airports among others.”

The Airline Operators of Nigeria, therefore, “appeal to passengers to express some restraint in expressing their displeasure or frustrations during flight delays or cancellation.”

It added: “This is because the airline, within the prevailing circumstances could be complying with a safety procedure, obeying a regulation or facing certain difficulties beyond its immediate control.

“It is also necessary to put on record that while passengers are entitled to their rights, they also have some obligations and responsibilities. For instance, Part 19 of “Nig. CARs 2012, Vol. II highlights some rights and responsibilities of passengers.

“Item six (6) of the NCAA’s Notice on Passenger Obligations To Airlines/Service Providers requires passengers to: “Be of good behavior at all stages of their journey.”

AON further called on the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to beef up security at the airports across the country and “ensure that the lives of airline staff and their properties are lawfully protected”.

“May we state also, that should a similar occurrence like the unfortunate case with Max Air happen to any of our member airlines going forward, AON may be forced to have a rethink on how to respond in such circumstances,” Sarina stated.

The Star