Nigeria’s renowned airline, Air Peace, has firmly refuted claims that it abandoned passengers at Gatwick Airport in London on April 8, 2024, and closed its counter prematurely due to overbooking.
Responding to a video circulating on social media alleging the incident, Air Peace labeled the accusations as false and aimed at tarnishing its reputation.
The airline clarified that Gatwick Airport operates on slot timings assigned to each airline, and the check-in process is based on these slots. Once the allocated time expires, airlines must vacate the counters for the next carrier.
According to Air Peace, check-in operations cease at 9:00 AM, as clearly stated in their e-ticket terms and conditions. The counter was vacated at 9:55 AM in compliance with their slot allocation.
“To prevent missed flights, we send multiple reminders to passengers before departure,” Air Peace stated. The flight was scheduled to depart at 11:10 AM, and all procedures were conducted accordingly.
The airline refuted the claim of overbooking, stating that both the UK and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities could verify their passenger manifest. Furthermore, CCTV footage from Gatwick Airport confirms the timeline of events, showing the passenger’s arrival at the counter and the timing of the video in question.
The late passenger, upon arrival, paid the no-show fee and was rebooked on a subsequent flight, effectively resolving the issue at the airport.
“Air Peace is dedicated to serving passengers efficiently but requires adherence to specific timelines for seamless travel,” the airline emphasized.
