Air Peace on Friday denied allegations of a “scam” concerning its proposed Lagos–São Paulo direct route, clarifying that no tickets were sold, no passengers were abandoned, and the airline has not commenced operations on the route.
The management described the media report as misleading and sensational, emphasizing that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Brazil signals intent for future cooperation—not an immediate flight launch.
Speaking on Friday in Lagos, the airline dismissed the report as deceptive, malicious, and misleading, noting that it falsely accused both Air Peace and the current administration over the proposed Lagos–São Paulo direct route.
Air Peace described claims of a “scam” as false, sensational, and dishonest, stressing that at no time did the airline or the Federal Government of Nigeria defraud Nigerians in Brazil or elsewhere in relation to the route.
According to the airline, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is not equivalent to a flight launch. Rather, it is a statement of intent between governments to strengthen bilateral cooperation. An MoU does not involve ticket sales, flight schedules, or a guarantee of immediate commencement of operations.
“In aviation practice, several mandatory processes must be completed after an MoU before any flight can operate,” the airline explained. “No Nigerian was stranded by Air Peace. No tickets were sold, no booking platform was opened, and no flight date was announced. It is therefore illogical to claim that passengers were stranded by a flight that was never placed on sale. What occurred was self-imposed expectation, not deception.”
Air Peace further stated that international long-haul operations require multiple regulatory and operational approvals that cannot be accelerated by publicity or political goodwill. These include implementation frameworks under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), approval from Brazil’s civil aviation authority (ANAC), slot allocations at São Paulo airports, safety, insurance and ETOPS certifications, as well as aircraft deployment planning and route economics.
Addressing concerns about capacity, the airline confirmed that it has the necessary equipment to operate the route. Air Peace currently has four Boeing 777-200/300 aircraft in its fleet, with two deployed on the London Heathrow and London Gatwick routes, while the remaining two are on standby for other long-haul destinations, including São Paulo, pending completion of all regulatory and commercial processes.
“Until these requirements are fully met, no responsible airline would announce ticket sales or commence operations,” the airline stated.
Air Peace also clarified that no commencement date has been fixed and described claims blaming the airline for the high cost of connecting international flights as baseless.
The airline therefore regarded the report as a deliberate act of blackmail against both Air Peace and the Federal Government of Nigeria. It emphasized that no flight was sold, no Nigerian was abandoned, no scam occurred, and that an MoU is not a boarding pass.
Air Peace reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and professionalism, adding that the Lagos–São Paulo route would be formally announced once all regulatory and commercial conditions are fully satisfied.
