Five African airlines are under fire from COMESA for flouting the organisation’s aviation regulations.
The airlines are Zambia Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, RwandaAir, Kenya Airways and Air Mauritius. The COMESA Competition Commission through its CEO Dr Willard Mwemba said the said airlines were the subject of the most complaints from consumers.
The airlines are accused of delaying flights, arbitrary flight cancellations, rescheduled flights, damaged baggage, lost baggage, and overbooking.
COMESA found out from a survey among customers that about 72 percent of consumers affected by cancellations and delays did not receive redress while 28 percent of those with baggage issues lacked access to claim information.
Some of the airlines also did not provide accommodation and meals for passengers who missed connecting flights due to delays, neither did they offer alternatives.
Zambia Airways has already been fined 2 percent of its total annual turnover by COMESA while investigations continue in the conduct of the other airlines.
Kenya Airways received the most complaints across the mentioned categories, followed by Ethiopian Airlines, Air Mauritius, and RwandAir.
Dr. Mwemba called some of the settlements given by airlines as a ‘unmeaningful’ and a ‘joke’. He termed the airlines’ actions as ‘unfair practices and disregard for legitimate consumer grievances’.
The trade block has now issued guidelines for airlines from the region to follow regarding reimbursement rights, passenger compensation, cancelled and delayed flights, damaged baggage, overbooking, and rerouting options.
Among recommendations in the guidelines is for airlines to compensate passengers USD 250 – USD 600 depending on the flight distance. Additionally, affected passengers must receive accommodation and meals, as well as rerouting options.
Ethiopian Airlines recently held a food tasting event for onboard meals for its 2026 menu.
Dr. Mwemba spoke at a press briefing during the just concluded COMESA conference in Nairobi that took place on Friday, October 10. He said the competition commission has embarked on an enforcement effort in the region to ensure consumers are served with dignity.
Most African airlines are finding it difficult to turn a profit with almost all relying on state funding and subsidies. Such fines while aimed towards improving competitiveness of the airlines will definitely dig into the already inadequate revenues.
