Air Peace Limited has issued a strong rebuttal to media reports alleging that it sold tickets to Jamaica and subsequently abandoned or “dumped” passengers in Barbados, describing the claims as inaccurate and a distortion of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a statement released by its management, the airline maintained that all tickets purchased by the affected passengers were sold in strict compliance with international airline sales procedures and relevant aviation regulations, insisting that there was no form of deceptive practice or intentional misrepresentation of travel itineraries.
Air Peace explained that the issue emerged during routine pre-departure profiling and documentation checks conducted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
During the process, it was discovered that some passengers lacked the required transit visas to travel through Antigua to their final destinations, which included Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago.
The airline said that, in line with aviation rules which prohibit the carriage of passengers without valid travel documentation, it immediately offered full refunds to those affected.
While some passengers accepted the refund option, others opted for an alternative routing arrangement.
According to Air Peace, several passengers voluntarily requested to be rerouted through Barbados, noting that Nigerian passport holders do not require transit visas when travelling through Barbados en route to Jamaica and other destinations.
The airline stressed that it facilitated this arrangement purely at the passengers’ request.
“In total, 42 passengers willingly consented to have their tickets rerouted through Barbados,” Air Peace stated, adding that no passenger was compelled or coerced into travelling to Barbados.
The situation reportedly worsened after an unexpected operational delay caused the flight to arrive in Barbados later than planned, resulting in missed onward connections.
Air Peace further disclosed that the airline expected to convey the passengers onward declined to honour the already purchased tickets, leaving the passengers unable to continue their journeys.
The airline also highlighted issues raised by Barbadian immigration authorities upon the passengers’ arrival.
Some travellers were reportedly unable to confirm hotel accommodation after their credit card transactions were declined, while concerns were also raised about passengers whose return tickets were dated December 31, 2025, but who indicated intentions to return to Nigeria months later without proof of alternative travel plans.
Air Peace noted that immigration authorities in Barbados, acting within their sovereign mandate, assessed each passenger on an individual, case-by-case basis.
As a result, 67 passengers from the group were granted entry and allowed to proceed with their journeys, while 25 others were denied entry based on the identified concerns.
Reiterating its position, the airline said it did not abandon, dump or deliberately inconvenience any passenger, stressing that it acted responsibly throughout the process by offering refunds, facilitating voluntary rerouting, providing on-ground assistance and ensuring the safe return of affected passengers.
Air Peace reaffirmed its commitment to high standards of professionalism, regulatory compliance and customer care, while urging the media to practise responsible journalism by verifying facts with all relevant stakeholders before publishing reports that could misinform the public.
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