December 29, (THEWILL) — Air Peace has refuted allegations that it misled passengers by selling tickets to Jamaica and subsequently “dumping” them in Barbados.
In an official statement released Monday evening, December 29, 2025, the airline described the reports as inaccurate and misleading.
Air Peace clarified that all tickets were sold in strict compliance with international aviation regulations and denied engaging in any deceptive sales practices.
The airline explained that during routine pre-departure documentation checks at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, several passengers were found to lack the necessary transit visas for travel via Antigua to destinations such as Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
In accordance with regulatory protocols, the airline stated it immediately offered full refunds to the affected travelers.
While some opted for the refund, 42 passengers voluntarily requested to be rerouted through Barbados, as Nigerian passport holders do not require transit visas to travel through Barbados to Jamaica and beyond.
“No passenger was forced, coerced, or compelled to travel to Barbados,” the statement emphasized. Air Peace noted that based on these voluntary requests, it facilitated the rerouting.
“However, an unforeseen operational delay caused the passengers to arrive in Barbados later than scheduled, leading them to miss their onward connecting flights.
The airline further explained that the onward carriers originally booked by the passengers refused to honor the tickets following the delay, leaving the group stranded.
Additionally, Barbados immigration authorities raised concerns regarding several passengers who lacked confirmed hotel accommodations or held return dates as far as late 2025 without a clear means of sustenance.
According to the airline, 67 passengers from the same group were granted entry and continued their journeys, while 25 were denied entry by Barbadian authorities.
Air Peace maintained that immigration assessments are a sovereign mandate beyond the airline’s control but noted that it acted in good faith by providing on-ground assistance and ensuring the safe return of those affected.
THEWILL reports that this clarification follows social media outcries from travelers who claimed they were pressured into changing their destination at the point of check-in. Air Peace reiterated its commitment to transparency and the welfare of its passengers.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
