NCAA orders airlines to add mandatory disability assistance on booking sites within seven days
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a firm directive to all domestic airlines, mandating them to integrate a special needs assistance request feature into their online ticket booking systems within seven days.
In a statement signed Friday by Michael Achimugu for Director-General Civil Aviation, the NCAA reiterated its long-standing push for better support for Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) and passengers with disabilities.
It references a 2022 directive (NCAA/CPD/585/1/22) and Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023, Part 19.12.3.1, which require airlines to “provide travelers the opportunity to request assistance at the point of booking across all ticket sales channels, including online platforms and telephone reservations.”
The statement demands airlines “conspicuously integrate a mandatory special needs assistance request option into their ticket reservation systems, ensuring that passengers are able to request such assistance before completing the ticket purchase process.”
It also calls for actively enquiring if any passenger in a booking party needs airport or in-flight help.
Airlines face regulatory enforcement for non-compliance.
“The NCAA remains committed to ensuring inclusive, accessible, and safe air travel for all passengers,” the statement concludes.
