SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM- On December 21, passengers who bought Air Peace tickets for a Lagos-Kingston, Jamaica, flight were shocked to learn only at the airport that the airline would no longer be flying to Jamaica but to Barbados.
According to the three passengers who spoke with FIJ, the sudden diversion was announced at the check-in point without prior notice, with refunds denied, while those who protested were pressured to board the aircraft or risk losing their money. What followed was a trail of dumping, detention, deportation and significant financial loss.
‘AIR PEACE ASSURED ME KINGSTON WAS THE FINAL DESTINATION’
While speaking with FIJ on Thursday, Joseph Owoyemi (not real name), an Abuja resident and one of the victims, told FIJ he had booked the flight after Air Peace publicly advertised the Lagos–Kingston route on its social media platforms and website.
“I booked a direct Air Peace flight ticket from Lagos to Kingston, Jamaica, scheduled to depart on December 21. Air Peace had publicly advertised and announced on their social media platforms that a direct Lagos–Kingston flight would be available,” Owoyemi told FIJ.
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“To verify the authenticity of this information, we took steps to confirm the details with the airline. We contacted Udoka Abalihi, an Air Peace business executive, who confirmed that Kingston would indeed be the final destination.
