Did Air Peace Abandon Passengers in Barbados? The Airline Responds

December 29, 2025 at 10:10 PM•3 min read

Air Peace strongly refutes claims of "dumping" passengers in Barbados, stating rerouting was voluntary due to transit visa issues and onward stranding was caused by an operational

Key Points

1Air Peace strongly refuted claims of 'dumping' passengers in Barbados, calling the reports inaccurate and misleading.
2The rerouting of 42 passengers was voluntary, initiated after pre-departure checks revealed transit visa issues for the original Antigua route to Jamaica.
3The stranding of 25 passengers resulted from an operational delay, a missed onward connection not honored by another airline, and subsequent denial of entry by Barbados immigration due to documentation and accommodation concerns.
467 other passengers from the same group were granted entry and allowed to continue their journeys.

Nigerian carrier Air Peace has strongly denied recent reports. The reports claimed the airline sold tickets to Jamaica but then "dumped" passengers in Barbados. Air Peace calls these publications misleading and inaccurate. The airline insists all tickets were sold following international airline sales practices. It also confirms compliance with all applicable aviation regulations.

The Rerouting Incident

The incident began at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria. During pre-departure checks, some passengers lacked required transit visas. These visas were needed for travel through Antigua to final destinations. Destinations included Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

In line with regulatory requirements, Air Peace offered full ticket refunds. Some passengers accepted this refund option. However, others voluntarily requested a rerouting. They noted that Nigerian passport holders do not need a transit visa through Barbados.

Air Peace then facilitated this rerouting for 42 passengers. The airline emphasized that no one was forced or coerced to travel to Barbados.

Stranding and Immigration Concerns

An unforeseen operational delay caused the flight to arrive late in Barbados. This delay resulted in passengers missing their onward flight connections.

Air Peace stated the onward airline refused to honor the tickets. This refusal is what left the passengers stranded in Barbados.

Further issues arose with the Barbados immigration authorities. Some passengers had credit card transactions declined for hotel bookings. This left them without confirmed hotel accommodation. Immigration also noted concerns about return travel. Some passengers had a return date months after their arrival. They also lacked alternative means of travel back to Nigeria.

Barbados immigration exercised its sovereign mandate. They assessed each passenger individually on a case-by-case basis.

67 passengers from the group were granted entry.
25 passengers were ultimately denied entry due to these concerns.

Aviation Regulatory Compliance

Air Peace maintains it acted responsibly throughout the process. Actions included offering refunds and facilitating voluntary rerouting. The airline provided on-ground assistance and ensured safe return.

This incident highlights the critical importance of passenger documentation. Airlines must comply with strict international transit visa requirements. Passengers bear the responsibility for securing all necessary travel documents.

This situation also underscores the challenges of interline travel agreements. An onward carrier's refusal to honor tickets can quickly create a crisis.

Air Peace is committed to regulatory compliance and customer care. The carrier is West and Central Africa's largest. It urged media outlets to verify facts before publishing.

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