The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has directed home airways to replace their ticket reservation platforms with a obligatory particular wants help choice, giving operators a seven-day deadline to conform.
The order, aimed toward enhancing accessibility for passengers with disabilities and individuals with decreased mobility, was introduced in a press release launched on Friday and signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Client Safety on the NCAA, Michael Achimugu.
Achimugu defined that airways are required to make sure passengers can request help on the level of reserving throughout all gross sales channels, together with on-line portals and phone reservation techniques.
“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has reiterated its directive to all home airways working in Nigeria to make sure full compliance with provisions for Individuals with Diminished Mobility and passengers with disabilities by incorporating a compulsory Particular Wants/Help request characteristic on their ticket reservation techniques,” the assertion learn.
The aviation regulator recalled {that a} related directive was first issued in April 2022, instructing airways to “conspicuously place a chosen area, field or column on their reserving platforms” to allow passengers notify airways of any particular wants earlier than finishing ticket purchases.
In keeping with the NCAA, this requirement is additional supported by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Rules 2023, Half 19.12.3.1, which locations duty on airways, journey brokers and tour operators to make satisfactory preparations for passengers who might require help throughout airport and in-flight operations.
The rules mandate airways to obviously show an identifiable part on ticket reserving portals via which individuals with disabilities or their aides can request particular wants help when buying flight tickets. Operators are additionally anticipated to actively enquire whether or not any passenger in a reserving group requires such help.
“In view of the foregoing, the NCAA has directed all affected airways to conspicuously combine a compulsory particular wants help request choice into their ticket reservation techniques, guaranteeing that passengers are capable of request such help earlier than finishing the ticket buy course of,” the authority mentioned.
The NCAA warned that airways that fail to conform throughout the stipulated seven-day interval will face regulatory sanctions in accordance with current aviation legal guidelines and rules.