Chaos erupted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday night as multiple Air Peace flight cancellations left dozens of passengers including expatriates, families, and children stranded overnight in the departure hall.
Frustrated travellers were forced to sleep on uncomfortable aluminium chairs after the airline abruptly cancelled several scheduled flights.
Eyewitness videos showed angry passengers protesting and demanding answers, while others sat in exhaustion and silence.
This latest disruption adds to growing concerns over the airline’s operational reliability, as the airline has come under fire for a series of delays and cancellations in recent weeks.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had summoned Air Peace Limited following a series of recurring flight delays and cancellations, which have continued to disrupt the travel plans of Nigerian passengers.
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, in a statement released on Friday said the regulatory body expressed serious concern over the airline’s ongoing operations and stressed the urgent need for corrective action to restore customer trust.
The statement came after a high-level meeting at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja, where the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Chris Najomo, engaged with Air Peace’s senior management to address the situation.
Captain Najomo advised the airline to scale down its operations in line with its available fleet capacity to minimise disruptions and ensure more reliable flight schedules.
“The NCAA has received numerous complaints about chronic flight cancellations and delays by Air Peace. This trend must be urgently reversed,” said Captain Najomo.
“While the NCAA remains committed to supporting domestic airlines, strict compliance with aviation regulations and global best practices is non-negotiable.”
The NCAA further announced plans to intensify regulatory surveillance on all Nigerian airlines to enforce compliance with flight schedules and ensure improved operational standards across the board.
Responding to the concerns, Air Peace acknowledged the current operational difficulties, describing them as challenges that are “not uncommon in the aviation industry.”
The airline assured regulators and the public that it is actively working to resolve technical and logistical issues to deliver better service.
Captain Najomo emphasized NCAA’s zero-tolerance policy for poor airline performance, warning that any operator failing to meet regulatory expectations will face sanctions or penalties as necessary.
