NCAA introduces fines of $170, N10,000 on luggage delayed, missing by airlines

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has disclosed that 18,955 passengers’ luggage were recorded missing and delaying by international airlines and  319 recorded for local airlines in 2024.

The aviation authority revealed that 17,365 luggage of international passengers were later recovered while the other 1,590 luggage remained unaccounted for.

To stop this, NCAA however introduced a penalty of $170 and N10, 000 to be paid by foreign and local airlines, respectively, for delaying passengers’ luggage.

The regulatory agency said that such delayed luggage must be delivered to the affected passenger on international routes within 21 days, while for local flights, within seven days.

According to statistics from NCAA,  Air France, had the highest number of missing baggage with 2,075 among foreign carriers flying into Nigeria.

This was followed by KLM with 1,938; Egypt air; 1,850; Royal Air Maroc, 1,745, British Airways, 1,428; Lufthansa; 1,535, Kenya Airways; 1,346; Delta Air Lines, 1,101.

Others were Qatar Airways; 980, Ethiopian Airlines, 545; Air Cote d’Ivoire; 424; Rwandair, 365; Asky; 290, South African Airways, 77; Air Peace, 49; Africa World Airlines; 35, Taag Angola, 31 and Middle East with only five missing luggage.