Air Peace has attributed a fresh wave of flight disruptions at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to a shortage of Jet A1 aviation fuel and adverse weather conditions that later prevented its Abuja-Maiduguri service from operating as scheduled.
The airline issued the explanation after videos of frustrated passengers circulated on social media, drawing attention to delays affecting its Abuja operations.
According to Air Peace, the initial disruption was not peculiar to its fleet. The carrier said the unavailability of Jet A1 affected several airlines operating from the Abuja airport.
“The initial delays to our Abuja operations were occasioned by the unavailability of Jet A1 aviation fuel, which affected Air Peace and other airlines operating from the airport,” the airline said in a statement.
It added that flights affected by the fuel shortage resumed once aviation fuel became available.
The situation, however, took another turn with the Abuja-Maiduguri service.
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Air Peace said an extension had initially been granted for the flight, but changing weather conditions eventually made the extension impracticable.
“By the time the aircraft was ready for boarding, prevailing VFR conditions meant that the extension was no longer tenable, as the flight could not operate beyond sunset,” the airline explained.
VFR, or Visual Flight Rules, refers to flight operations conducted under weather conditions that allow pilots to navigate primarily through visual reference. The restriction became critical because the available operating window had closed by sunset.
The development meant that passengers scheduled to travel from Abuja to Maiduguri could not depart as planned.
Air Peace said it kept affected passengers informed during the disruption and provided refreshments while they waited.
After the flight was cancelled, the airline said it arranged hotel accommodation for affected passengers and scheduled the service for the following day.
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our esteemed passengers,” Air Peace said, while reiterating that passenger safety guides its operational decisions.
The latest disruption comes against a backdrop of growing attention to delays and cancellations in Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector.
Figures released by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority show that domestic airlines recorded more than 4,000 delayed flights and 36 cancellations in August. Air Peace operated 1,864 flights during the month, with 1,330 recorded delays, representing 71.4 per cent of its operations.
The figures provide useful context to the latest incident, although they do not establish that the Abuja disruption was caused by the same factors recorded in August.
Passengers affected by delays and cancellations also have protections under the NCAA’s current Part 19 consumer-protection regulations. The rules provide for assistance to passengers during domestic flight delays, including refreshments after two hours and reimbursement or rerouting in specified circumstances after longer delays.
The regulations also provide for compensation in certain cancellation and lengthy-delay situations, although specific exemptions can apply where an airline demonstrates extraordinary circumstances beyond its control.
The aviation regulator has recently taken a closer interest in passenger disruptions. In another Air Peace case earlier this month, the NCAA directed the airline to prepare a compensation package for passengers affected by a delayed Lagos-Enugu flight following a preliminary investigation
The Abuja incident therefore places two issues at the centre of the latest disruption: the availability of aviation fuel and the operational limits imposed by weather and daylight.
While Air Peace has apologised to the affected passengers, the airline said its decision to halt the Abuja-Maiduguri service was dictated by safety considerations.
The carrier added that it appreciated passengers’ patience and understanding and would continue to prioritise safety in its operations.
