Air Peace Prioritizes Safety Amid NCAA Criticism Over Flight Disruptions
Nigerian carrier Air Peace has defended its recent flight delays and cancellations, attributing them to safety protocols rather than fleet shortages, following scrutiny from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The NCAA directed the airline to scale operations to match its available fleet after public complaints, but Air Peace insists safety remains its top priority.
NCAA’s Directive: Align Operations with Fleet Capacity
- Regulatory Intervention: NCAA DG Chris Najomo met with Air Peace on May 2, demanding improved service reliability and compliance.
- Public Complaints: Chronic delays/cancellations prompted the NCAA to enforce fleet-aligned scheduling.
- Increased Oversight: The agency warned of heightened monitoring across all airlines to ensure adherence to safety and operational standards.
Air Peace’s Defense: Safety First, Fleet Adequacy
- Bird Strike Incident: On May 2, flight P47103 (Enugu-Lagos) suffered a bird strike, grounding the aircraft for checks and causing network-wide delays.
- Fleet Status:
- 5 Active Aircraft: Only 5 of 28 planes are operational in Nigeria.
- 4 Wet-Leased Jets: Supplemented by A320s from SmartLynx subsidiaries.
- 23 AOG (Aircraft on Ground): 8+ planes stranded abroad due to foreign exchange hurdles, delaying maintenance retrieval.
Air Peace stated: “We prioritize safety over profit. Delays stem from unforeseen events like bird strikes, not fleet insufficiency.”
Behind the Delays: Maintenance & Foreign Exchange Crisis
- Maintenance Logjams: Nigeria’s forex crunch traps 8+ aircraft overseas, worsening fleet shortages.
- Industry-Wide Issue: Air Peace joins Nigerian carriers struggling to retrieve planes due to dollar scarcity.
- Operational Impact: Reduced fleet strains schedules, but airline insists it “has more planes than daily usage.”
CTA: Have you experienced recent flight disruptions? Share your story and stay updated on aviation news.
Final Take
While the NCAA pushes for reliability, Air Peace’s stance underscores aviation’s unyielding safety ethos. Yet, Nigeria’s forex crisis remains a turbulent headwind, grounding growth ambitions. As passengers demand punctuality, the balance between safety and service continues to soar at 35,000 feet.
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