TheCable

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it “has engaged” the management of Ibom Air over a recent flight delay incident.

TheCable had reported how passengers were stranded for hours at the Murtala Muhammad international airport in Lagos, following a delay on an Ibom Air Lagos-Abuja flight.

On Thursday, the Lagos-Abuja flight was delayed by six hours, with no concrete explanation given to passengers until it was time to board the aircraft.

The passengers, who were scheduled to take off at 5:50pm, did not leave the Lagos airport until minutes to midnight.

Amid the confusion and protest over the delayed flight, the airline asked the police to arrest a passenger who had insisted that the aircraft would not take off until arrangements were made for accommodation for passengers upon arrival in Abuja.

The arrest was, however, resisted by other passengers, while no compensation regarding accommodation or transportation was provided.

The passengers eventually arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport in Abuja around 1am.

Speaking on the incident via a Twitter post on Saturday, Babatunde Irukera, chief executive officer (CEO) of FCCPC, said although the airline had given some explanation for the delay, there is a need for such companies to be sensitive to passengers.

“@fccpcnigeria has engaged Mgmt of @ibomairlines regarding occurrence & reportage. The airline reports a tech difficulty with one aircraft & challenges getting Jet fuel. Regardless, sensitivity & responsiveness to pax is non-negotiable. Oversight remains to ensure fairness to pax,” he wrote.

@fccpcnigeria has engaged Mgmt of @ibomairlines regarding occurrence & reportage. The airline reports a tech difficulty with one aircraft & challenges getting Jet fuel. Regardless,sensitivity & responsiveness to pax is non-negotiable. Oversight remains to ensure fairness to pax.

— Babatunde Irukera (@TundeIrukera) December 10, 2022

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