Popular Nigerian airline, Air Peace, has been summoned by The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over regular flight delays and cancellations.
Speaking during a meeting in Abuja with some management staff of the airline, the DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo revealed that Air Peace should work on improving its domestic operations amid recent complaints.
According to him, the airline should immediately trim operations to the size of available aircraft in its fleet to contain the current crisis, because while NCAA will keep supporting Air Peace, all operators must fully comply with the rules and regulations guiding the aviation sector.
Reiterating that the NCAA is constantly stepping up its tracking of flight operations across all airlines, Chris warned that compliance is very much compulsory to avoid sanctions.
Representatives of Air Peace in Abuja acknowledged that the recent problems the airline has been encountering, while adding that they are working tirelessly to rectify the issues and satisfy their loyal customers.
Speaking today via a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications at Air Peace, Dr Ejike Ndiulo, the airline disclosed that cancelling or delaying flights to ensure safety of human lives in adherence to air safety standards will always be the right thing to do.
Ejike revealed that while he empathises with passengers who experienced all kinds of inconveniences amid the recent cancellations and delays, safety considerations will always be paramount for Air Peace.
“It is not our policy to delay or cancel flights without due cause, and when we do, we are often the greater loser financially.
We will never sacrifice safety for convenience, comfort, speed or profit.
Therefore, any delays or cancellations we have experienced have absolutely nothing to do with fleet shortage.
For instance, on Friday, one of our aircraft experienced a bird strike, which damaged the engine while landing in Enugu.
The aircraft was immediately grounded and withdrawn from operation in accordance with safety protocol.
This kind of situation is completely beyond the control of any airline, but again, our priority is the safety of our passengers.
It is to be stated that every decision Air Peace has taken since the inception of this airline, whether resulting in delay, cancellation or suspension of a flight, has been taken in the best interest of safety.
If such situations occur again, we will do the same because we are not ready to compromise safety. We do not cancel any flight for the fun of it,” he said.
