The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has informed that NG Eagle, the new partner of Dana Air, will be responsible for processing ticket refunds and managing flight bookings for passengers impacted by the airline's suspension, which followed a runway incursion at Lagos domestic airport in April.
This information was shared in a statement issued on Saturday by Michael Achmugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA.
The decision was reached after discussions between the Acting Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, and representatives from both Dana Air and NG Eagle, focusing on solutions for complaints regarding delayed refunds.
Under this agreement, affected passengers will have the choice of receiving cash refunds or utilizing their existing tickets for flights operated by NG Eagle, thereby minimizing disruptions to their travel arrangements.
The NCAA acknowledges the suspension of Dana Air operations and its impact on passenger travel.
“The authority recognizes that customers of Dana Air who purchased tickets for flights that were canceled due to the suspension have requested refunds and have been awaiting resolution.”
“In line with NCAA’s regulatory obligations, the DCGA, Capt. Chris Najomo and his management team have met with Dana Air and its new partners, NG Eagle with a view to resolving these complaints.
“The resolution is that NG Eagle will be taking up this obligation.
“To this end, Dana Air has informed that while alternative modalities are being put in place to treat cash refund requests, passengers who intend to utilize their tickets for travel will be able to do so on NG Eagle,” the statement read in part.
The announcement further reassured the public that Capt. Najomo and his team are committed to promptly addressing all refund concerns related to Dana Air.
In April 2024, a Dana Air MD82 aircraft, registered as 5N-BKI, experienced a runway excursion while traveling from Abuja to Lagos at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The flight had 83 passengers and 6 crew members on board, all of whom safely evacuated without any injuries. A statement from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) indicated that the incident occurred when the aircraft's nosewheel retracted during landing, leading to a collapse of the nose and causing the plane to drift into a grassy area adjacent to the runway.
In light of this event, the NCAA suspended Dana Air’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to facilitate a comprehensive safety and economic review of the airline. Consequently, Dana Air began the process of refunding the passengers affected by this incident. Going forward, NG Eagle, Dana Air’s new partner, will assume the responsibility for managing these refund obligations.