Delays Are About Safety, Not Shortages – Air Peace Counters NCAA Concerns
…Reaffirms Commitment to Safety-Centric Operations
Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading carrier, has issued a detailed response to a recent statement reportedly released by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which called on the airline to improve its domestic operations following what the authority described as persistent delays and cancellations.
In its official reaction on Friday, the airline expressed appreciation for the NCAA’s dedication to upholding safety and regulatory compliance within the nation’s aviation sector. However, it sought to “set the record straight” regarding the circumstances surrounding its operational challenges.
“As a proud Nigerian airline, we deeply appreciate the NCAA’s consistent efforts in ensuring that all airlines operating within the country, including Air Peace, adhere strictly to global safety standards and regulatory compliance,” the statement from Air Peace management began.
The airline stressed that safety remains its foremost priority, and that the delays and cancellations being referenced are primarily driven by stringent adherence to safety protocols rather than negligence or inefficiency.
“We fully empathise with our esteemed passengers who experience discomfort, inconvenience, or disrupted plans due to flight delays or cancellations. However, we do not regret taking operational decisions rooted in the protection of human lives,” the statement added.
Addressing a reported recommendation from the NCAA suggesting that Air Peace reduce the scale of its operations to match the number of aircraft it currently has available, the airline countered that it possesses more aircraft than are currently deployed for daily operations.
“Any delays or cancellations we’ve experienced have absolutely nothing to do with fleet shortage,” the airline clarified.
Air Peace provided a real-time example to illustrate the challenges it faces in its operations. The management disclosed that one of its aircraft suffered a bird strike while landing in Enugu earlier on Friday, resulting in engine damage.
The aircraft was subsequently grounded in line with safety protocols, causing a ripple effect across multiple scheduled routes for the day.
“This kind of situation is completely beyond the control of any airline,” the management stated, “but again, our priority is the safety of our passengers.”
The airline reiterated that all of its operational decisions — including delays, cancellations, or suspensions — are taken in the interest of passenger safety and are never made arbitrarily or for economic gain.
“We do not cancel any flight for the fun of it. It is not our policy to delay or cancel flights without due cause, and when we do, we are often the greater loser financially,” the airline noted emphatically.
Concluding, the airline reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to serving passengers with “dignity, professionalism, and above all, adherence to safety standards.”
The management maintained that, regardless of the pressures or financial implications, the airline would never sacrifice safety for convenience, speed, or profit.
