By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Kenya Airways has paid the sanction fee imposed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for violating passenger rights, including the case involving Nigerian traveller, Gloria Omisore.
NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the payment in a post on his official X account on Thursday. He disclosed that the airline settled the fine on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, after a series of meetings involving the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, airline officials, and representatives from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
“Kenya Airways has, on Wednesday 17/09/2025, paid the sanction fee as a penalty for the Gloria Omisore and other consumer protection-related infractions,” Achimugu stated.
He explained that NCAA sanctions are not intended to punish operators but to ensure compliance with safety and passenger-handling standards. “As always, NCAA sanctions are not to punish operators, but to help improve their flight operations, especially with regard to safety and passenger handling protocols,” he added.
Achimugu also made it clear that the fine payment does not conclude the matter, as the timeframe for resolving the cases has already lapsed. “The payment of sanction fines does not conclude the issues. The NCAA will follow through and is assuring both passengers and airlines of its commitment to protecting their rights and responsibilities,” he said.
The dispute dates back to February when Omisore accused Kenya Airways of mishandling her during a disrupted trip at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Denied boarding on a Paris-bound flight due to a missing Schengen transit visa—despite allegedly being told she was eligible to travel—she endured a 17-hour layover and another 10-hour delay before being rerouted to London.
Her requests for accommodation and care were denied, with the airline insisting such provisions do not apply to visa-related denied boardings. The situation escalated into a confrontation caught on video, where Omisore allegedly threw used sanitary pads at airline staff.
Following investigations, the NCAA found Kenya Airways guilty of breaching consumer protection regulations and misleading the public in its initial statements. On May 7, 2025, the authority sanctioned the airline, ordering it to pay 1,000 Special Drawing Rights in compensation to each of the three affected passengers, including Omisore, as well as issue a public apology.
While acknowledging Kenya Airways’ compliance, the NCAA reiterated its commitment to safeguarding passenger rights and enforcing strict adherence to international aviation standards.
