Air Peace Cites Safety for Delays, Rejects Fleet Shortage Claims

Air Peace has defended its recent flight delays and cancellations, citing safety as the primary reason rather than fleet shortages. This follows a directive from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) urging the airline to scale down operations to match its available aircraft.

After a meeting on May 2 with Air Peace management, NCAA Director General Chris Najomo expressed concern over “chronic flight delays and cancellations” and instructed the airline to align operations with fleet capacity. He warned of enhanced regulatory oversight across all domestic carriers.

In a statement released through local media, Air Peace pushed back against allegations of inadequate fleet resources. The airline claimed it has more aircraft than are used daily and blamed operational disruptions on safety-related incidents, including a May 2 bird strike on flight P47103 from Enugu to Lagos, which triggered technical checks and delays across the network.

The airline reaffirmed its commitment to safety, stating, “We do not cancel or delay flights without valid reasons and never compromise safety for profit or convenience.”

According to ch-aviation data, only five of Air Peace’s 28 aircraft are currently active, with 23 listed as AOG (Aircraft on Ground). The airline supplements its fleet with four wet-leased A320-200s from SmartLynx Airlines and its affiliates.

At least eight aircraft remain in storage or undergoing maintenance abroad, impacted by Nigeria’s ongoing foreign exchange challenges, which have limited the ability of local airlines to repatriate aircraft from overseas facilities.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com