Foster advocates enforcement of passenger rights

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Foster advocates enforcement of passenger rights 








Sindy Foster, Aviation analyst and Principal Managing Partner at Avaero Capital Partners has called for a new culture of balance and accountability in Nigeria’s aviation sector, urging that passenger rights must be matched with responsibilities if safety, dignity, and public trust are to be restored.


Speaking at the Emergency Meeting of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee in Abuja, Foster said:


“Rights without responsibilities create entitlement. And entitlement, unchecked, undermines safety and order. Passengers, airlines, regulators, and staff all have a role to play in creating a respectful and safe aviation system.”


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Key Highlights

• Passenger Rights: Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Regulations already guarantee refunds, compensation for denied boarding, and care in the event of disruptions. These protections place Nigeria in line with global norms.

• Passenger Responsibilities: Foster emphasised that with the right to safe, affordable travel comes the duty to obey lawful instructions, comply with security rules, and treat staff with dignity.

• Crew Rights: Aviation workers must also be protected. “No society tolerates doctors being assaulted in hospitals or teachers attacked in classrooms. Aviation staff deserve the same dignity,” she said.

• Global Lessons: In the US, unruly passengers face fines of up to $80,000; in the UK, £80,000; and in the EU, €75,000. By contrast, Nigeria’s penalties — around ₦200,000 — are too weak to deter misconduct.

• Recommendations: Foster proposed raising fines, introducing a No Fly List for repeat offenders, ensuring cost-recovery for diversions, fast-tracking legal proceedings, and launching a joint public education campaign: “Fly Right Nigeria.”


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*Closing Call*


Foster urged aviation stakeholders to move away from blame games and towards collaboration:


“Passenger rights matter. Passenger responsibilities matter equally. Crew rights matter too. The only way forward is through balance, accountability, and dignity in our skies.”

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