Air Peace has denied allegations of deceiving the public over its proposed Lagos-São Paulo direct flight, labeling a SaharaReporters article as “malicious and misleading”.
The airline has issued a detailed statement refuting the claims, stating that the report is a deliberate attempt to malign Air Peace and the Nigerian government.
According to Air Peace, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Brazilian government is not a flight launch, but rather a statement of intent to deepen bilateral cooperation.
The airline emphasized that “several regulatory and operational approvals are required operations can commence, including Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) implementation frameworks, approval from Brazil’s civil aviation authority (ANAC), slot allocations at São Paulo airports, safety, insurance, and ETOPS certifications, and aircraft deployment planning and route economics.”
Air Peace also stated that: “no tickets were sold, no booking platform was opened, and no flight date was announced, making it illogical to claim passengers were stranded.”
The airline has the requisite equipment, including four Boeing 777-200/300 aircraft, to operate the route, two of which are currently deployed on the London Heathrow and London Gatwick routes, while the remaining two are on standby for deployment to other long-haul destinations, including São Paulo, upon completion of all regulatory and commercial processes.
The management accused SaharaReporters of blackmail and attempting to undermine a Nigerian business through falsehoods and media manipulation.
“Air Peace considers this report a deliberate act of blackmail against the airline and the Federal Government of Nigeria, sponsored by vested interests within Nigeria,” the statement read.
Air Peace emphasized that it has been working diligently to meet all necessary requirements for the Lagos-São Paulo route, and that the process has been ongoing since last year.
The airline said it has also been engaging with relevant Nigerian authorities, cooperating with the Brazilian government, and working with stakeholders in Brazil to bring the operation to fruition.
“We remain committed to transparency and professionalism,” the statement concluded, stressing: “when all regulatory and commercial conditions are satisfied, the Lagos-São Paulo route will be announced formally, as has been done with every other destination operated by the airline. Until then, Nigerians deserve facts, not fear-mongering headlines.”
