Dozens of frustrated passengers, including children, expatriates, and families, were left stranded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after Air Peace abruptly cancelled multiple scheduled flights on Friday, May 2, 2025.
According to The PUNCH, many of the affected travellers had to endure the night on cold metal seats in the airport’s departure lounge.
Videos and photos captured show visibly upset passengers — some protesting, others visibly exhausted — demanding explanations for the delay.
The incident adds to growing public dissatisfaction over repeated delays and cancellations by the airline.
This latest development comes amidst an ongoing row between Air Peace and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, which recently issued a warning to the airline over persistent disruptions.
One of the stranded passengers, Dr. Kunle Ashimi, a former chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Ogun State, was scheduled to depart Abuja for Lagos at 6:00 pm. He recounted how his flight was initially rescheduled for 8:00 pm, only for passengers to remain at the terminal until around 3:15 am.
“If it were a passenger who arrived late, they’d have denied us boarding. But who holds the airline accountable for this kind of abuse?” Ashimi queried.
He further expressed frustration over the financial and emotional cost of the delay, stating that he had booked accommodation in Ikorodu, Lagos, which went to waste.
Similarly, a nursing mother identified as Adetoun lamented the hardship of spending the night at the airport with her child, who was due for a medical appointment in Lagos the following morning.
“My baby has an appointment with his doctor early Saturday morning. Instead, we are stuck here battling mosquitoes and cold. It’s distressing,” she said.
Despite the inconvenience, Air Peace eventually operated a flight that departed Abuja at 3:15 am and landed in Lagos around 4:10 am.
Efforts to reach the airline’s spokesperson, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, proved unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered.
In a statement released earlier on Friday, Air Peace defended its operational decisions, stating that its actions are always rooted in safety considerations. The airline noted that safety, not profit, remains its top priority.
“Delays and cancellations are never made for fun. They are determined by safety factors. We sympathise with passengers whose plans are disrupted, but we do not regret decisions made to protect lives,” the statement read.
The airline also rejected claims that it was overextending its fleet, asserting that flight schedules are aligned with available aircraft.
The NCAA, however, has directed the airline to improve its operations to ensure minimal disruption for passengers moving forward.
