Air Peace has strongly refuted allegations by SaharaReporters that it collaborated with the Federal Government to deceive Nigerians over the proposed Lagos–São Paulo direct flight, describing the report as malicious, misleading and based on unverifiable sources.
In a detailed response, the airline said the publication falsely portrayed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Brazil as a commercial flight launch, insisting that no tickets were ever sold, no flight date announced and no passengers stranded.
According to the management of Air Peace, the claim that the proposed route was a “scam” is sensational and dishonest.
The airline maintained that at no point did it or the Federal Government of Nigeria defraud Nigerians in Brazil or elsewhere, stressing that an MoU is merely an expression of intent between governments to deepen bilateral cooperation and does not amount to an immediate commencement of flight operations.
Air Peace explained that in global aviation practice, an MoU does not translate into ticket sales, flight schedules or guarantees. Rather, it is the beginning of a long process that must be followed by multiple regulatory, operational and commercial approvals before any international route can be launched.
The airline further dismissed suggestions that Nigerians were stranded, stating that no booking platform was opened and no tickets were sold for the Lagos–São Paulo route.
It described claims of stranded passengers as illogical, arguing that expectations created without any official announcement or ticket sale could not be attributed to deception by the airline.
Highlighting the complexity of long-haul international operations, Air Peace noted that several mandatory processes must be concluded before flights can commence.
These include the implementation of Bilateral Air Services Agreement frameworks, approvals from Brazil’s civil aviation authority, airport slot allocations in São Paulo, safety and insurance clearances, ETOPS certifications, aircraft deployment planning and the viability of route economics.
The airline emphasised that such requirements cannot be fast-tracked by publicity or political goodwill.
On the issue of capacity, Air Peace said it possesses the requisite equipment to operate the route. The airline currently has four Boeing 777-200 and 777-300 aircraft in its fleet, with two deployed on its London Heathrow and London Gatwick services and the remaining two available for deployment to other long-haul destinations, including São Paulo, once all regulatory and commercial processes are completed.
It stressed that no responsible airline would announce ticket sales or begin operations without meeting these requirements.
Management also clarified that Air Peace never made a binding commitment to a fixed commencement date for the Lagos–São Paulo service.
It warned that statements of intention or optimism should not be misrepresented as guarantees, noting that airlines often study and prepare international routes for years before launch. By way of example, the airline said its London operations took about seven years from conception to execution.
Addressing complaints about the cost of connecting international flights, Air Peace described attempts to blame the airline as baseless. It said it does not control foreign airlines or global pricing structures, adding that the existence of an MoU cannot automatically reduce international airfares.
The airline went further to allege that the SaharaReporters publication was part of a deliberate act of blackmail sponsored by vested interests seeking to undermine both Air Peace and the Federal Government.
It argued that, as the only airline in Nigeria and the West African sub-region with the capacity to operate transoceanic flights using its own wide-body fleet, it has been subjected to sustained smear campaigns.
Air Peace disclosed that it began processes toward the Lagos–São Paulo route as far back as last year, engaging relevant Nigerian authorities, cooperating with the Brazilian government and working with stakeholders in Brazil to bring the operation to fruition.
It reiterated that all required processes must be fully concluded before flights can commence, stressing that aviation safety remains non-negotiable.
Condemning what it described as attempts to undermine a Nigerian business through falsehoods and media manipulation, the airline said such actions, allegedly aimed at gaining competitive advantage, would never succeed.
The management criticised SaharaReporters for what it called a familiar pattern of turning diplomacy into alleged fraud, rebranding due process as passenger stranding, substituting verifiable facts with anonymous claims and ignoring aviation realities to manufacture outrage. It described the approach as agitational storytelling rather than journalism.
Reaffirming its position, Air Peace stressed that no flight was sold, no Nigerian was abandoned and no scam occurred, reiterating that an MoU is not a boarding pass.
The airline pledged continued transparency and professionalism, assuring the public that the Lagos–São Paulo route would be formally announced only when all regulatory and commercial conditions are fully satisfied.
Air Peace concluded that Nigerians deserve facts, not fear-mongering headlines, as it continues to pursue the route in line with international aviation standards and best practices.
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