The United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) has raised concerns about Nigerian airline operator Air Peace’s compliance with safety regulations, reporting the matter to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
NCAA spokesman Michael Achimugu confirmed to Channels Television on Monday that the regulator had received complaints from its British counterpart regarding Air Peace’s operations at Gatwick Airport in London. The safety issues were identified during a ramp inspection conducted by UKCAA.
Two mandatory occurrence reports on Air Peace were submitted to UKCAA, which then forwarded the concerns to NCAA. Achimugu emphasized that the complaints pertained to less serious categories of violations, not the Level 1 category, which would indicate serious safety non-compliance.
“The complaints do not mean that the airline can no longer operate at Gatwick airport. The NCAA has communicated the complaints to the airline, and an investigation is ongoing,” Achimugu stated. Air Peace spokesman Stanley Olisa indicated that the airline would officially respond to the complaints.
Air Peace began direct flight operations from Lagos to Gatwick Airport on March 30, 2024, as part of a move to address the imbalance in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK. Subsequently, on April 25, 2024, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo approved the extension of Air Peace’s London route to include Abuja.
Industry observers have praised this development, encouraging more local airlines to explore international routes. Air Peace’s competitive pricing has significantly impacted the market. Initially, international flight tickets on the Lagos-London route cost up to N3.5 million, but Air Peace introduced a return economy class ticket at N1.2 million. This move prompted foreign airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways to reduce their prices to remain competitive.
Air Peace’s entry into the London market has triggered a price war, with foreign carriers lowering their fares to attract customers. Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema has accused foreign airlines of a “devilish conspiracy” to push the airline out of the route.
