Air Peace has attributed the cancellation of its Abuja-Maiduguri flight on Saturday to a combination of aviation fuel shortage in Abuja and a subsequent restriction on operations at the Maiduguri airport. The airline stated that initial delays to its Abuja operations were caused by the unavailability of Jet A1 aviation fuel, which also affected other airlines operating from the airport. This shortage led to a ripple effect, impacting several flights.
According to Air Peace, the situation improved after fuel became available and affected flights resumed. However, its Abuja-Maiduguri service could not operate after the Maiduguri control tower withdrew an earlier extension for the flight to arrive beyond sunset. The control tower had initially granted an extension for the flight to arrive, but later informed the airline that the airport had become subject to visual flight rules and would no longer operate beyond sunset.
The change in flight rules meant that Air Peace could no longer operate the Abuja-Maiduguri service as planned. The airline subsequently cancelled the flight and made arrangements to accommodate the affected passengers in a hotel. Arrangements were also made to operate the flight the following day. Passengers were informed about the delays and provided with refreshments, and following the cancellation, they were provided with hotel accommodation.
The disruption comes amid increased scrutiny of flight delays and cancellations in Nigeria, as well as of how airlines handle passengers when services are disrupted. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority recorded 7,961 domestic flights in August, of which 4,765 were delayed, and 36 were cancelled. Air Peace accounted for 1,330 of the delayed flights in the NCAA’s dataset, representing 71.4 per cent of the 1,864 flights recorded for the airline.
However, Air Peace disputed the figures, saying it operated 2,564 flights during the month and that more than 700 flights were not captured in the NCAA data. The airline also said only 391 of its delayed flights were caused by factors within its operations. This discrepancy highlights the complexities in tracking flight data and the need for accurate reporting.
The latest disruption also comes days after the NCAA directed Air Peace to prepare a compensation package for passengers affected by a delayed Lagos-Enugu flight. The regulator said its preliminary investigation found that the airline had sent passengers the wrong notification about the rescheduled flight. Under the NCAA’s Part 19 regulations, airlines have obligations to passengers during delays and cancellations.
Air Peace said it sincerely regretted the inconvenience caused to its esteemed passengers and appreciated their patience and understanding. The airline emphasized that the safety and well-being of passengers remained its priority. The incident underscores the importance of timely information and passenger care during disruptions, as well as the need for airlines to adhere to regulatory requirements.
Key points
- Air Peace cancels Abuja-Maiduguri flight due to fuel shortage and weather conditions
- NCAA regulations require airlines to provide information and assistance to passengers during delays and cancellations
- Air Peace disputes NCAA's data on flight delays, citing discrepancies in reporting.
