Air Peace has issued a statement addressing the widespread flight disruptions at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, following social media footage and news reports showing stranded and frustrated passengers voicing concerns over delayed and cancelled flights.
According to the airline, the initial operational hiccups were caused by a widespread scarcity of aviation fuel at the capital’s airport, which affected several carrier operations across the board.
‘The initial delays to our Abuja operations were occasioned by the unavailability of Jet A1 aviation fuel, which affected Air Peace and other airlines operating from the airport,’ the airline’s management stated. ‘Upon the availability of fuel, our affected flights commenced operations accordingly.’
However, while other services resumed after fueling, the airline’s Abuja-Maiduguri route encountered further complications due to strict daylight flight restrictions.
‘Our Abuja-Maiduguri service could not subsequently operate as planned. Although an extension had initially been granted for the flight, by the time the aircraft was ready for boarding, prevailing VFR [Visual Flight Rules] conditions meant that the extension was no longer tenable, as the flight could not operate beyond sunset,’ Air Peace explained.
Addressing criticism regarding customer care during the prolonged wait, the carrier maintained that it took duty-of-care measures to support affected travelers both at the terminal and after the cancellation was declared.
‘Throughout the disruption, passengers were duly informed of the delays and provided with refreshments. Following the cancellation, affected passengers were also provided with hotel accommodation, with arrangements made to operate the flight the following day,’ the statement read.
The airline management expressed regret over the incident while reiterating its commitment to standard safety protocol over operational expediency.
‘We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our esteemed passengers and appreciate their patience and understanding. At Air Peace, the safety and wellbeing of our passengers remain paramount, and we will continue to prioritise these considerations in all our operations.’