Airports To Establish Mobile Courts For Unruly Passengers

In a bid to address the increasing cases of unruly behavior at airports, authorities in the aviation sector have finalized plans to introduce mobile courts to prosecute passengers who disrupt operations or attack airline and airport staff.

According to Daily Trust, incidents of flight delays or cancellations often lead to agitated passengers resorting to physical confrontations or damage to airport facilities. Both the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have strongly condemned such actions.

To further address operational challenges, it was also resolved that operational hours for “sunset airports”—airports typically open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. due to the absence of night-flying infrastructure—will be extended to 10 p.m., provided they are equipped with adequate lighting and facilities.

These decisions were made at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the NCAA in Lagos to tackle widespread flight disruptions caused by the harmattan season and other operational challenges. The meeting brought together representatives from FAAN, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), among others.

The NCAA’s communique outlined several measures to improve airport operations and passenger management:

• Sensitisation Campaigns: NCAA and FAAN will jointly educate the public on the consequences of unruly behavior.
• Enhanced Security: Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers will professionally de-escalate tensions during passenger agitations, while stricter security measures will prevent unauthorized access to tarmacs.
• Environmental Management: Efforts will be made to reduce bird strike risks through improved waste management around airports.

Airlines were also urged to optimise flight schedules, keep standby aircraft for emergencies, and use weather forecasts from NIMET to improve planning. Collaborative efforts in luggage and passenger handling were encouraged, following successful examples from Ibom Air.

Passengers will receive better communication during disruptions, including updates on delays, rerouting options, and mandatory provisions such as refreshments, accommodations, and refunds. Additionally, complaints regarding lost, delayed, or pilfered luggage must be resolved promptly with appropriate compensation.

The resolution also emphasised the need for public education on weather-related disruptions and their impact on flight schedules.

This initiative reflects a collaborative effort to improve the efficiency, safety, and passenger experience within Nigeria’s aviation sector while maintaining stricter accountability for all stakeholders involved.