Air Peace deploys standby aircraft to reduce delays, boost reliability
BY CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO
Air Peace has set aside three aircraft to serve as operational buffers in a strategic move to minimise flight delays and disruptions across its network.
Chairman of the airline, Dr Allen Onyema, said the initiative, launched in May, was aimed at addressing internal delays and mitigating the impact of unforeseen circumstances that could affect flight schedules. According to him, this proactive step has already produced results, with the airline recording over 85 per cent On-Time Performance (OTP) in May.
Onyema noted that the standby aircraft are not part of the daily flight schedule and are deployed only when needed to maintain service continuity. He explained that while internal factors can occasionally cause delays, most disruptions affecting the airline’s operations are external.
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He blamed flight cancellations and delays on weather conditions, airport infrastructure challenges, bird strikes, and inadequate navigational aids at certain airports. Onyema revealed that Air Peace suffered two bird strikes just last week, bringing the total to over 30 incidents this year and 115 in the last five years.
“Bird strikes are a serious threat. They can take aircraft out of service instantly, and this can be catastrophic if not managed. We’ve been fortunate in Nigeria, but this is a national issue that needs attention,” Onyema said.
Despite these challenges, he emphasised that Air Peace operates more daily flights than all other domestic airlines in Nigeria combined. He stressed that the airline maintains strict safety protocols and has a zero-tolerance policy for unsafe practices.
He defended the airline’s record, pointing out that adverse weather and external delays, often beyond the airline’s control, are wrongly attributed to poor scheduling. “When thunderstorms or rain disrupt flights, it has a domino effect on other scheduled services. People see this and blame Air Peace because of our size and volume,” he said.
Onyema announced plans to rebrand the airline’s customer service department to improve passenger experience, noting that enhancing communication and service delivery remains a top priority.
He also highlighted the airline’s international track record, pointing to its uninterrupted London service as evidence of operational excellence. “We passed rigorous audits by British and European authorities, which is why we are still flying to London. In over a year of operations, we have never cancelled a single UK flight,” he said.
The Air Peace chairman disclosed that plans are underway to resume flights to India, but lamented the country’s refusal to grant landing rights at some key destinations.
