Air Peace, however, applauded NCAA’s efforts in ensuring airline operators’ adherence to global safety standards.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, has justified its decision after a statement by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) urged the airline to improve its domestic flight operations amid claims of chronic delays and cancellations.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos by its Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo.
According to Air Peace, it does not regret cancelling or delaying flights to ensure safety of human lives in adherence to air safety standards.
While empathising with passengers who experienced inconveniences from its flight cancellations and delays, the airline said the disruptions were due to safety considerations.
It also reiterated that if weather conditions, technical parameters or operational standards fall short of safety standards, flights will not be operated.
“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,” the statement read.
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The airline went on to thank NCAA, for requesting improvement in its domestic operations.
It also applauded the authority’s efforts in ensuring airline operators’ adherence to global safety standards.
Air Peace, however, said that it was also important to clarify that it had more aircraft than were being rostered for daily operations.
“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“The aircraft was immediately grounded and withdrawn from operation in accordance with safety protocol,” the airline added.
Air Peace further stated that the aircraft was scheduled to service multiple routes, noting that its unavailability had had a ripple effect on flight operations for the routes.
