The Kenya Airways has finally paid the sanction fee imposed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority after a prolonged dispute over consumer rights violations, including the high-profile case of Nigerian passenger, Gloria Omisore. The airline settled the penalty on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, six months after the sanction was announced.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, said in a statement and his official X handle that the settlement followed a series of meetings involving the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, officials from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and representatives of Kenya Airways.
“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 said.
He added that while the NCAA commends the airline for compliance, the payment does not conclude the matter, as the timeframe for resolving the complaints has long elapsed.
The report by Punch newspaper recalled that the sanction was due to an incident in February 2025, when Gloria Omisore, a Nigerian passenger, accused Kenya Airways of mishandling her travel arrangements. Omisore, who was on a return trip to Manchester via Paris, was denied boarding at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on the grounds that she lacked a Schengen transit visa.
The situation escalated because, according to Omisore, the airline had earlier assured her that no such visa was required for her itinerary. The denial left her stranded in Nairobi for 17 hours, followed by an additional 10-hour delay on an alternative London route offered by the airline.
The report added that sanctions included a N3m fine on Kenya Airways, compensation of 1,000 Special Drawing Rights for each of the three affected passengers, including Omisore, and a requirement for a public apology to the passengers.
In acknowledging the payment, the NCAA praised the airline’s decision to respect regulatory authority but emphasised that the sanction process goes beyond monetary settlement.
“The payment of sanction fines does not conclude the issues,” Achimugu cautioned. “The timeframe for the resolution of the cases has since elapsed. The NCAA will follow through and is assuring both passengers and airlines of its commitment to protecting their rights and responsibilities,” the newspaper quoted the NCAA official as saying.
GIK/APA