FG mandates airlines to refund customers after two-hour delay

Hadi Sirika

The Federal Government has instructed that airliners in the country must refund the full cost of travel tickets to passengers after a two-hour delay, minister of aviation Hadi Sirika said.

Speaking on Thursday at the weekly State House briefing in Aso Villa, Abuja, Mr Sirika charged air travellers to always demand their rights whenever they are being trampled upon by airlines.

He said, “On domestic flights, delay beyond one hour, carrier should provide refreshment, and one telephone call, or one SMS, or one e-mail. They should send you an SMS or email or call you to say, ‘I am sorry, I am delaying for one hour’.

“Delay for two hours and beyond, the carrier shall reimburse passengers the full volume of their tickets.

“Delay between 10pm and 4am, carrier shall provide hotel accommodation, refreshment, meal, two free calls, SMS, email and transport to-and-fro airport.”

The minister said the rules apply for international flights. He, however, urged air travellers not to be unruly at airports.