Air Peace has apologised to passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations across some of its operations in recent days, attributing the disruptions to a combination of operational and unforeseen circumstances.
The airline, in a statement signed by its Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, said the disruptions were caused by several factors, including an inadvertent false fire alarm that grounded one of its aircraft, adverse weather conditions that led to diversions and delays, a bird strike that kept another aircraft out of service for several days, technical issues requiring mandatory checks and maintenance, and delays in the availability of aviation fuel in some instances.
The airline acknowledged that the disruptions had caused significant inconvenience to passengers, particularly those whose travel plans were delayed, cancelled or had to be rearranged.
Air Peace said it understands the frustration caused by the operational challenges and was taking steps to stabilise its operations while reducing the impact of unforeseen incidents on passengers.
“While some of these circumstances were beyond our immediate control, we acknowledge the impact they have had on our passengers,” the airline said. “Our focus is on managing these challenges responsibly, minimising disruption and ensuring that our passengers are not left to bear the consequences of operational challenges.”
The airline’s apology comes amid growing sensitivity around flight delays and cancellations, which can disrupt passengers’ schedules and affect connecting journeys, business engagements and other important commitments.
Air Peace, however, stressed that operational pressures would not influence its safety decisions, maintaining that aircraft would only be returned to service after the necessary technical and safety checks had been completed.
The airline said safety remained its “highest priority” and that it would not compromise safety in an attempt to maintain flight schedules.
“An aircraft will not be released for service until our technical teams and all relevant safety procedures are satisfied that it is safe to fly,” it stated.
According to the airline, situations involving adverse weather, technical faults, bird strikes or other safety-related concerns would continue to take precedence over operational convenience.
It explained that where an aircraft was required to remain on the ground for safety reasons, it would not be returned to service simply to minimise delays or cancellations.
The carrier said it was also implementing immediate measures to strengthen its operational resilience, including improvements to contingency arrangements and passenger communication.
“We are taking immediate steps to stabilise our operations, strengthen our contingency measures and improve our communication and responsiveness when unforeseen challenges arise,” Air Peace stated.
The airline said the measures were aimed at ensuring that passengers received better support and information when operational disruptions occurred.
Air Peace reaffirmed its commitment to providing safe and reliable air transport services, saying it remained focused on improving the overall travel experience for its customers.
The airline also expressed appreciation to passengers who had remained patient during the recent disruptions and continued to place their confidence in the carrier.
“To every passenger who has been inconvenienced, kept waiting, had a journey disrupted or had to rearrange important plans because of these operational challenges, we sincerely apologise,” the airline said. “We deeply appreciate the patience and understanding of our passengers and the confidence they continue to place in Air Peace.”
The carrier pledged to continue working towards improved reliability and service delivery, while maintaining that safety considerations would remain non-negotiable.
“Air Peace remains committed to providing safe, dependable and increasingly seamless air travel, and to earning the trust and confidence of the flying public,” the airline added.
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