Air Peace refutes claims of abandoning passengers at Gatwick, asserts commitment to service

Air Peace, Nigeria’s national carrier, has refuted allegations that it abandoned passengers at Gatwick Airport in London on April 8, 2024, and closed its counter before the scheduled time due to overbooking of its aircraft.

Responding to a video on social media where the accusation was made, the airline categorically stated that it was false, labeling it as a deliberate attempt to tarnish its reputation.

The airline clarified that Gatwick Airport operates on slot timings allocated to each airline, with check-in operations based on these slots.

Once the allocated slot time is up, airlines must vacate the counters for the next airline’s use. Air Peace adhered to its slot allocation and vacated the counter at 09:55 AM, in line with the airport’s regulations.

To avoid missed flights, Air Peace sends multiple reminders to passengers before departure, including 24hrs, 14hrs, and 6hrs prior to the scheduled flight time. The departure for the flight in question was scheduled for 11:10 AM, and all processes were aligned with this timing.

The claim of flight overbooking was debunked by the airline, stating that both the UK and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities can verify their manifest.

Additionally, CCTV footage from Gatwick Airport corroborates the timeline of events, showing when the passenger arrived at the counter and when the video was recorded.

The late passenger in question paid the no-show fee and was rebooked on a subsequent flight, resolving the issue at the airport. Air Peace emphasized its commitment to serving passengers effectively but stressed the importance of adhering to specific times for seamless travel.