Dana Air scandal: Lagos resident still waiting for refund

A Lagos resident, Emeka Obilor, has been left reeling after his family’s flight booking with Dana Air was cancelled due to financial issues and suspension by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

In July 2022, Obilor booked a flight for himself, his wife, and three children from Lagos to Enugu State with Dana Air, which was scheduled to take place in August of that year. The flight booking cost him N224,170.

However, just a day after the booking, the NCAA suspended Dana Air’s Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) indefinitely due to concerns over the airline’s financial obligations and ability to conduct safe flight operations.

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Despite the cancellation, the airline sent Obilor a text message on July 29, 2022, informing him of the flight cancellation. The airline also provided a refund form for Obilor to fill out and submit.

Two months later, on August 3, 2022, the airline sent Obilor another message stating that the refund process had started. However, it has been over two years since the flight was cancelled, and Obilor has yet to receive his N224,170 refund.

“I sent several emails and made many phone calls to the airline, but all I always got as a response was, ‘Sir, we are working on it. Apologies’,” Obilor told FIJ in an interview.

Dana Air has responded to Obilor’s complaints several times, stating that the issue has been escalated to the relevant unit and promising feedback as soon as possible. However, Obilor has yet to receive any concrete updates on the status of his refund.

The incident has left Obilor feeling frustrated and disappointed with the airline’s handling of the situation.

“It has now been more than two years since the flight was cancelled and Dana Air still hasn’t given me back my N224,170. This is terrible!” he said.

The incident raises concerns about the accountability of airlines in Nigeria and the effectiveness of regulatory bodies in ensuring consumer protection.