British Airways left at least 20 passengers unable to board their scheduled flight to London on Saturday. This followed a similar incident on Friday, when 58 travellers were denied boarding after the airline cited a faulty aircraft door, requiring reduced seating for safety reasons.
Among those affected was Chiabuotu Linda Eke, who, along with her elderly mother and three-year-old child, was denied boarding for the second consecutive day. Another passenger, Kenneth Francis Onyeabor, expressed concern over potential delays to a scheduled medical procedure for tomorrow, while a third traveller is faced with the uncertainty over whether his wedding, planned for Monday, would proceed as intended.
Some passengers raised questions about the boarding process, with Mrs. Temitope David, who was also denied boarding yesterday and an early check-in passenger, expressing disappointment that other passengers who arrived later were allowed to board.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident. Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Relations and Consumer Protection, noted that affected passengers had been offered hotel accommodations, with 28 opting to return home while 30 accepted the arrangement. He also clarified that those impacted could file for compensation under aviation regulations and assured that efforts were underway to accommodate them on subsequent flights.
British Airways has not commented on these claims, but the NCAA emphasised that passengers encountering difficulties should seek assistance from its Consumer Protection Officers at the airport.
The airline has yet to release a detailed statement on Saturday’s incident, but the back-to-back disruptions underscore the broader challenges passengers face, especially in Nigeria.
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