FCCPC Says Delayed Flight Passengers Deserve Food, Airtime, Accommodation

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said airline passengers affected by delayed or cancelled flights are entitled to basic care, including refreshments, airtime, and in some cases, transportation and accommodation.

The commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, disclosed this on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, amid growing complaints over persistent flight delays and cancellations across Nigeria.

Ijagwu explained that airlines are obligated to support passengers once flights are delayed beyond a reasonable period.

“If your flight is delayed, you are supposed to be given refreshments. After some more hours of delay, you are supposed to be given airtime,” he said.

He added that passengers may require airtime because prolonged delays could leave them stranded or distressed, making communication necessary.

“From what we understand from the books and the law, you are supposed to be given airtime because you could be seen to be at least in distress. So you will be required to be assisted to that extent,” he stated.

He further noted that where flights are abruptly cancelled after passengers have waited for long hours, airlines may also be required to provide transportation and accommodation depending on the circumstances.

“When it gets to cancelling the flight abruptly, and you had kept consumers all through that time, it’s required even outside of the law,” he said.

He explained that because many airports are located far from city centres, airlines should reasonably provide transport support, while hotel accommodation may also apply in certain situations.

“Apart from that, accommodation could be provided in certain instances. So, given the exact situation, we could just put this side by side with the exact situation as it would have occurred to be able to determine what should have been given and what has been denied,” he added.

His remarks come as domestic airlines continue to struggle with the rising cost and scarcity of Jet A1 aviation fuel, leading to repeated flight delays, suspensions, and cancellations.

Photos and videos of stranded passengers have circulated widely online in recent days, showing travellers left at airports for hours without clear communication or support from airline operators.

At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday, several airlines reportedly rescheduled flights multiple times, leaving passengers stranded without transportation or overnight accommodation.

Last week, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, hinted at a possible increase in airfares, saying the move may be necessary to help domestic carriers remain in operation and prevent a shutdown of services.

Earlier, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) warned that it could suspend operations over the sharp increase in aviation fuel prices.

According to the operators, the cost of Jet A1 rose from ₦900 per litre in late February to ₦3,300 per litre within weeks, representing an increase of more than 300 per cent.

In a letter to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), the operators said they had continued to absorb the rising costs out of patriotism and national service, but admitted that the burden had become unsustainable.

“Airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone,” the letter stated.