Air Peace Limited has refuted allegations in a recent publication claiming that the airline sold tickets to Jamaica and subsequently “dumped” passengers in Barbados.
In a statement, the airline described the report as misleading and inaccurate, saying it did not reflect the actual facts surrounding the incident.
Air Peace said all tickets were sold strictly in line with international airline sales practices and applicable aviation regulations, stressing that it did not engage in deceptive sales or mislead passengers about their travel arrangements.
“During standard pre-departure profiling and documentation checks at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, it was discovered that some passengers did not possess the required transit visas to travel via Antigua to their final destinations, including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago,” the airline said.
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It explained that, in compliance with regulatory requirements, affected passengers were immediately offered full refunds. While some accepted the refund option, others voluntarily requested to be rerouted through Barbados, noting that Nigerian passport holders do not require transit visas to travel through Barbados to Jamaica and other destinations.
“Based solely on this voluntary request, Air Peace facilitated the rerouting. In total, 42 passengers freely and expressly requested to have their tickets rerouted through Barbados to their final destinations. No passenger was forced, coerced or compelled to travel to Barbados,” the airline said.
Air Peace said that due to an unforeseen operational delay, the passengers arrived in Barbados later than scheduled and missed their onward connections. It added that the onward tickets originally purchased were not honoured by the airline expected to operate the connecting flights, leaving the affected passengers stranded.
The airline also said some passengers who attempted to secure hotel accommodation using credit cards had their transactions declined, leaving no evidence of confirmed lodging.
Another concern raised by Barbados immigration authorities, according to Air Peace, involved passengers whose return tickets indicated December 31, 2025, despite plans to return to Nigeria months later without alternative travel arrangements.
“This was deemed unacceptable by the Barbados immigration authorities, who exercised their sovereign mandate to assess each passenger individually and on a case-by-case basis. This process is beyond Air Peace’s obligation,” the airline said.
It noted that 67 passengers from the same group were granted entry and allowed to continue their journeys through Barbados, while 25 were denied entry based on the concerns raised by immigration officials.
Air Peace reiterated that it did not abandon or deliberately inconvenience any passenger.
“The airline acted responsibly, transparently and in good faith at all times by offering refunds, facilitating voluntary rerouting at passengers’ request, providing on-ground assistance and ensuring the safe return of affected passengers,” it said.
