The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has officially raised the compensation limits for death or injury in an international flight from $100,000 to $202,500.
The adjustment comes two months after ICAO’s announcement in October that the liability limits would be updated.
ICAO had said, “Travelers will soon benefit from higher compensation limits for international flights, with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announcing that the Montreal Convention liability limits for death, injury, delays, baggage, and cargo issues will increase on 28 December 2024.”
The Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu disclosed that the review has taken effect.
“Important update: International passengers will now get more benefits as liability limits increase becomes effective,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Based on the revised limit seen by NewsNGR, the compensations are measured in Special Drawing Rights (SDR).
It said that 1 SDR was valued at $1.333 on October 18, 2024.
ICAO said, “The limits will be revised as follows: 1. The limit for death or bodily injury will increase from 128,821 SDRs to 151,880 SDRs (about US$202,500) (originally 100,000 SDRs in 2003).
“The limit for delay in passenger transport will rise from 5,346 SDRs to 6,303 SDRs (about US$8,400) (originally 4,150 SDRs in 2003).
“The limit for destruction, loss, damage, or delay of baggage will increase from 1,288 SDRs to 1,519 SDRs (about US$2,000) (originally 1,000 SDRs in 2003).
“The limit for destruction, loss, damage, or delay of cargo will rise from 22 SDRs to 26 SDRs per kilogram (about US$35) (originally 17 SDRs in 2003).”
ICAO has invited the States Parties to MC99 to “make provisions as necessary in accordance with their domestic legal requirements, to give full effect as of 28 December 2024 to the revised limits,” Juan Carlos Salazar.
He noted that ICAO continues to advocate for the universal ratification of M99.
The M99 benefits passengers and the shippers of cargo while enabling the unified and equitable development of air service, according to ICAO.