Air Peace suspends flights to Johannesburg over aviation fuel scarcity, visa delays, forex crunch
Nigeria’s Air Peace has announced suspension of flight operations to Johannesburg in South Africa from Monday, August 22, for reasons the carrier attributed to delays in issuance of visas, aviation fuel scarcity and foreign exchange crunch, which it said are further compounded by a drop in passenger volume.
Air Peace, in a statement confirming the development, however, assured that it will resume operations on that international route from October 8, this year.
According to the airline, the decision became inevitable due to delays experienced in the issuance of South African visas to Nigerian travellers, which has led to a drop in its passenger load.
“We hereby inform the flying public that effective from August 22, 2022, our Johannesburg flight operations will be suspended till October 8, 2022.
“This development is regretted but has become inevitable due to the delayed issuance of South African visas to travellers, worsening forex crunch and the increasing cost of aviation fuel as well as its scarcity.
“However, having informed the South African High Commission in Lagos of the effects of the difficulty in getting SA visas by Nigerians, which consequence is the abysmally low passenger loads on our flights to and from Johannesburg, we believe that the situation will have improved within the next 60 days. Hence, our willingness to resume operations on the October 8, 2022.”
Air Peace further said passengers whose flights are affected have the option of rescheduling to fly before August 22, 2022 or from October 9, 2022.
“We apologise for the inconveniences caused and will keep the public updated while we hope the situation improves,” Air Peace continued.
