The spokesperson of Air Peace has provided an official response to the query received from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regarding complaints raised by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA).
Earlier, the UKCAA had forwarded complaints from London Gatwick Airport about Air Peace to the NCAA, which then requested clarification from the airline.
NCAA’s Stance:
Michael Achimugu, spokesperson for the NCAA, clarified that the complaints from the UKCAA fall under less serious categories of violations, not the Level 1 category which signifies serious safety non-compliance. Achimugu stated, “The complaints do not mean that the airline can no longer operate at Gatwick Airport. The NCAA has communicated the complaints to the airline. Investigation is ongoing.”
Air Peace’s Response:
Air Peace addressed the complaints in a detailed statement, asserting that the issues had already been clarified with the UKCAA.
“We can confirm that the UK Civil Aviation Authority wrote to Air Peace after their statutory Ramp Inspection on April 7, 2024, to request clarification on our use of the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and some other concerns,” the statement read. “We provided the necessary information, and the matter was resolved without any issues.”
Air Peace further clarified, “It is, therefore, wrong to say we do not have approval for our EFB. Air Peace received approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and all our Boeing 777 aircraft are certified to operate with EFBs.”
Regarding the claim about the B777 aircraft lacking iPad mounts and charging ports, Air Peace responded, “All B777 aircraft are equipped with charging ports in the cockpit, and we ensure that all our B777 aircraft have iPad mounts.”
Addressing the cockpit library location concern, the airline explained, “The B777 designates two locations for storing manuals and books: one behind the captain and one under the jumpseat. During the inspection, the books were stored under the jumpseat, as is commonly practiced. We understand the inspector’s preference for the books to be placed behind the captain and have ensured this preference is accommodated for all operations going forward.”
On the runway exit issue, Air Peace noted, “The captain, using professional discretion, opted to exit at the end of the runway instead of the middle runway exit. This may have delayed the arrival of another aircraft. We acknowledge this deviation and have addressed the matter with the captain to ensure adherence to preferred exit procedures in the future.”
Air Peace reassured passengers of its commitment to safety and full compliance with aviation regulations.
Hidden Agenda?
The recent controversy has raised suspicions about a potential hidden agenda behind the complaints.
Federal Character had earlier reported that Air Peace’s recent launch of the Lagos to London route, part of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, was applauded by industry observers. However, this new competition has led to a price war, with foreign carriers undercutting prices to stay competitive. Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema has accused foreign carriers of a “devilish conspiracy” to frustrate the airline.
Previously, international flight tickets on the Lagos-London route cost as much as N3.5 million. Air Peace’s competitive pricing, with return economy class tickets at N1.2 million, forced foreign airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways to slash their prices.
Could this be another ploy to undermine Air Peace by casting doubt on its safety and reliability?
Bottom Line:
Air Peace maintains its commitment to safety and compliance, addressing all concerns raised by the UKCAA. The airline’s entry into the Lagos-London route has significantly impacted ticket pricing, and the recent complaints may reflect underlying competitive tensions in the aviation market.
