By Chinedu Eze
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered Ethiopian Airlines to stop forthwith the illegal collection of unauthorised charges from travellers, which the airline referred to as “Refundable Deportation Fee” of ‎$75 to $150 per passenger.
NCAA said in a statement that Nigerians who were travelling to South Africa with‎ the airline were compelled to pay the amount before boarding their flight.
The agency said it had been inundated with complaints from passengers that were forced to pay the money.
According to investigation by NCAA, all outbound passengers to South Africa from Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, transiting through Addis Ababa, were liable to pay the $75.
“However, if your transiting time is 24 hours or beyond, the passenger will pay $150 dollars. While passengers are not given prior notice concerning these charges before arriving at the airports, some were made to sign undertaken to be responsible for all expenses incurred if deported,” it said.
Details later…
