By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has directed airline operators to refund 100% airfares to passengers after a two-hour delay.
Sirika made this known on Thursday at the weekly State House Briefing in Aso Villa, Abuja.
The minister noted that the ministry has started sanctioning some airlines who default on consumer rights.
The operators revealed to the Punch that non-availability and rising cost of aviation fuel, also known as JetA1 and inadequate parking spaces at airports, were reasons for delays.
The operators, led by the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, stated this on Tuesday when they appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation chaired by Senator Smart Adeyemi.
Onyema added that other reasons were non-availability of forex for spare parts and maintenance, sudden change of weather, delay due to VIP movement, inefficient passenger access and facilitation, delay clearance of spare parts from Customs and inadequate screening and exit points at departure.
