Dozens of frustrated passengers, including expatriates, children, and families, were left stranded overnight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after Air Peace unexpectedly canceled multiple flights.
Passengers were forced to sleep on cold, uncomfortable aluminum chairs in the departure hall, with little to no assistance from the airline, PUNCH Online has learned.
Videos and photos obtained by our correspondent show angry travelers protesting the airline’s negligence. Some stood in protest, demanding answers, while others sat in exhaustion, feeling helpless.
The wave of cancellations comes amid ongoing tensions between Air Peace and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The NCAA had previously warned the airline to address its persistent delays and cancellations. In response, Air Peace maintains that these actions are driven by safety concerns and are in the best interest of passengers.
Passengers shared their frustrations with our correspondent, expressing how their plans had been disrupted, their patience exhausted, and their concerns ignored. Many are now calling on the government to intervene and address the increasing disruptions plaguing the aviation industry.
One of the stranded passengers, Dr. Kunle Ashimi, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Ogun State, was among those affected. He had booked a 6:00 pm flight on Friday, which was later rescheduled to 8:00 pm. He remained at the airport until after 3:15 am.
Speaking with our correspondent, Dr. Ashimi said, “If a passenger arrives late, they’re penalized or even denied boarding. But who holds the airline accountable for this kind of abuse?”
He also shared his frustration about the financial loss he incurred, having booked a hotel in Ikorodu, Lagos, and the emotional toll the delay caused him. He recounted how an expatriate passenger missed a crucial international connecting flight, and how a nursing mother, identified as Adetoun, had to spend the night at the airport with her child, who had a doctor’s appointment early the next morning in Lagos.
Adetoun described her situation: “My child, who is supposed to meet his doctor in the morning, now has to sleep here in the airport hall, fighting mosquitoes. It’s so painful for me.”
Amid the outcry, an Air Peace flight finally arrived at 3:15 am and landed in Lagos at 4:10 am.
Attempts to reach the airline’s spokesperson, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, were unsuccessful, with no response to calls or text messages.
Just hours earlier, Air Peace had defended its decision to cancel or delay flights, stating that safety is its top priority. The airline claimed its business focus is not profit but the well-being of passengers. In response to the NCAA’s warnings about overextending its fleet, Air Peace emphasized that its operational decisions are always made with safety as the primary concern.
“We fully empathize with our passengers who face discomfort due to delays or cancellations,” the airline said in a statement. “However, we will never operate flights that do not meet safety standards. If weather conditions, technical issues, or other operational factors fall short of what is safe, we will not operate that flight.”
