West Africa’s leading airline, Air Peace, has come under heavy criticism on Friday after passengers accused the carrier of poor communication following a major disruption at London Gatwick Airport.
The situation gained widespread attention after Nollywood actress Funke Akindele publicly called out the airline on X, alleging that passengers—including elderly travellers—were left stranded from early morning hours without adequate updates.
In her post, Akindele described a chaotic experience, stating that passengers had been waiting since about 6:30am with little or no communication from the airline. She added that after hours of delay, travellers were informed of a bird strike incident and promised hotel accommodation, which she said was not immediately provided.
She further complained that passengers were still stuck at the airport’s baggage area, hungry, exhausted, and without access to their luggage. According to her, there was also no clear guidance or support from airline staff.
Following the public outcry, Air Peace issued a response expressing regret over the disruption, saying it empathised with affected passengers and the inconvenience caused. The airline explained that while it prioritises safety and operational efficiency, some delays may occur due to factors beyond its control. It added that efforts were ongoing to assist all affected travellers.
Despite this assurance, several passengers expressed dissatisfaction online, accusing the airline of repeated service failures.
One user, Olamide, claimed that a separate Lagos-to-Gatwick flight was also cancelled, alleging that the airline frequently attributes disruptions to bird strikes when flights are not fully booked.
Another user, Setin Hunkokoe, criticised the airline’s overall service quality, describing its customer support as poor and expressing frustration over repeated experiences.
A further commenter, identified as FCA, urged the airline to improve its communication and service delivery, stressing that customers deserve better coordination and timely updates, even during unforeseen disruptions.
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