Published on September 13, 2025
Aero Contractors is stepping up its customer attraction game. Between January and August 2025, nan hose paid backmost complete N257.1 million, making judge that passengers who were owed money sewage it without delay. That magnitude is 137% higher than what nan institution processed successful nan aforesaid months nan twelvemonth before. These speedy refunds backmost up nan Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) arsenic it tightens nan rules to make judge airlines travel nan country’s user protection laws.
Refund Growth and Key Figures
Between January and August 2025, Aero Contractors refunded a singular N257,195,724.39, a crisp jump from N108,308,037.40 refunded complete nan aforesaid months successful 2024. Just 2 years earlier, nan number stood astatine only N32,766,652.30. This 2025 spike powerfully shows nan hose tightening compliance pinch user protection rules.
Aside from nan rate refunds, Aero Contractors besides paid N6,083,229 for edifice stays of passengers near down done nary responsibility of theirs. Accommodations were dispersed crossed a ringing of trusted facilities. In Abuja, notable spots were Cocos Hotel and Grand Cubana Hotel. Travelers to Asaba rested successful JC42 Apartment and, successful Lagos, astatine nan Mayor & Diplomat Hotel and nan NOCY Castle Hotel and Kim Royal Hotel.
Increased Refunds successful Line pinch NCAA Directives
This surge successful refunds comes aft nan Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) issued a directive requiring airlines to expedite their refund processes and adhere to regulations outlined successful Part 19 of nan NCAA Regulations 2023. These regulations are designed to guarantee that passengers’ authorities are protected successful lawsuit of formation cancellations, delays, aliases immoderate different disruption that affects their recreation plans.
The NCAA’s push for faster and much transparent refunds is portion of a broader effort to beforehand amended customer work crossed Nigeria’s aviation industry. This directive follows accrued concerns complete delayed refunds and compensation for passengers affected by formation disruptions.
The NCAA besides imposed sanctions for non-compliance pinch these regulations, which tin see fines aliases moreover suspension of hose operations. The authority has emphasized that it will not tolerate delays successful processing refunds and compensations, urging airlines to enactment swiftly erstwhile passengers are impacted.
Consumer Protection Guidelines for Travelers
With nan NCAA’s progressive engagement successful improving nan aviation sector, passengers tin expect much businesslike and timely handling of their grievances. However, travelers must besides beryllium alert of their authorities and really to navigate nan refund process efficiently.
1. Understanding Your Rights:
As a passenger, it is important to understand your authorities nether nan NCAA Regulations 2023, particularly Part 19, which pertains to user protection. The regulations instruction airlines to rumor refunds for canceled flights aliases delayed departures exceeding a definite duration. Additionally, passengers are entitled to compensation for different inconveniences, specified arsenic denied boarding aliases important delays.
2. Refund Process:
If you acquisition a formation disruption, guarantee that you study nan rumor to nan hose arsenic soon arsenic possible. Airlines for illustration Aero Contractors are now mandated to process refunds promptly, truthful location should beryllium nary request for prolonged waiting periods. If an hose fails to process your refund wrong a reasonable time, you person nan correct to escalate nan matter pinch nan NCAA.
3. Documentation is Key:
For soft processing, ever support records of your formation booking, receipts, and immoderate correspondence pinch nan airline. This archiving will service arsenic grounds should you request to make a general title aliases travel up connected your refund request.
4. Refund Timeframe:
The NCAA has mandated that airlines process refunds wrong a circumstantial clip frame. Passengers should support an oculus connected charismatic communications from nan hose regarding timelines. If nan process is delayed beyond nan stipulated period, nan hose could look penalties aliases different actions from nan NCAA.
5. Hotel and Accommodation:
In cases wherever passengers are stranded owed to cancellations aliases delays, airlines are now required to screen accommodation costs. This includes booking stays successful adjacent hotels and different facilities. Always inquire astir your accommodation entitlements if you look specified disruptions.
6. Compensation for Inconvenience:
In summation to nan refund, you whitethorn besides beryllium eligible for compensation for nan inconvenience caused. This tin see reimbursement for meals, transportation, and different expenses incurred owed to nan disruption. Be proactive successful asking nan hose astir disposable compensation options.
Moving Forward: Commitment to Passenger Rights
Aero Contractors’ caller activity of refunds is simply a invited move for travelers and a clear awesome that their authorities matter. By speeding up these payments, nan hose is showing it wants to meet NCAA rules and support customers satisfied. But remember, this is only 1 portion of a larger puzzle. Nigeria’s full aviation manufacture is moving to measurement up its user protection game.
The NCAA is not backing down. Its connection is straightforward: rider authorities are a apical priority, and airlines must deliver. The authority is keeping a adjacent oculus connected each hose and won’t hesitate to enactment if anyone drops nan ball.
Overview
Aero Contractors’ announcement that it will refund complete N257 cardinal to passengers successful 2025 is much than conscionable bully news it’s a clear motion that Nigeria’s aviation assemblage is making strides successful customer care. By upping its refund totals, nan hose is pushing a larger industry-wide extremity of being much open, efficient, and responsible. To return afloat advantage, travelers should cognize their rider authorities and study nan correct steps to travel erstwhile flights are delayed aliases canceled.
With nan manufacture moving successful nan correct direction, early journeys will apt travel pinch higher work standards and stronger rider protections. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will still beryllium nan watchdog making judge these promises are kept and that flyers’ interests are beforehand and center.