Flight Cancellation: ECOWAS approves increased compensation rates for passengers across member states

The approval is contained in the final communique of the ECOWAS Sixty-Sixth Ordinary Summit posted on its X page on Monday.

The bloc, chaired by Nigerian president Bola Tinubu, considered the severe negative impact of the high cost of air transport on the growth of the region’s air transport industry and on the wider economic and regional integration agenda of ECOWAS.

According to the communique, the ECOWAS Authority adopted the Supplementary Act relating to the regional Common Policy on Aviation Charges, Taxes, and Fees, aimed at reducing the cost of air transport services in the ECOWAS region.

“To ensure a holistic improvement of the region’s air transport industry, the Authority also approves the Regulation establishing a common framework for aviation security and the increased rate of compensation for passengers who are denied boarding of flights through an amendment of Article 4 of the Supplementary Act on delayed boarding, flight cancellations, and denied boarding.

“The Authority directs ministers in charge of air transport and the Commission to coordinate and monitor the effective and uniform application of the Supplementary Acts and Regulations in all Member States, while ensuring that airlines also comply with cost reduction obligations to ensure that ticket prices reflect the reductions to benefit all community citizens and populations,” the communique partly reads.

“The Authority further commends the progress made in completing the financial and technical studies for the Praia-Dakar Shipping and Maritime Link and the alignment definition of the Dakar-Abidjan Highway,” the communique added.

Flight cancellations and delayed flights are germane issues in Nigeria’s aviation industry, which has led to a number of litigations.

Early this year, the Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo announced that starting from January 2024, airlines found responsible for actions leading to flight delays or cancellations will be required to provide affected travelers with a 25% rebate on their next flight with the same airline.