West and Central Africa’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has successfully launched direct scheduled commercial flights between Lagos and Barbados, opening a new air corridor aimed at strengthening connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean.

The inaugural flight, operated with the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft on May 24, departed Lagos with over 284 passengers on board, highlighting growing travel demand between both regions.

Among dignitaries on the historic flight were the Chief Commercial Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Nowel Ngala; Barbados High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia, Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland; renowned Nigerian actress, Temitope Olowoniyan; alongside other airline officials and passengers.

The airline said the direct service was introduced to eliminate long-standing travel difficulties experienced by passengers moving between Africa and the Caribbean, including multiple stopovers, extended transit periods and complicated visa processes associated with connecting through foreign destinations.

Industry stakeholders described the launch as a major breakthrough in regional and international connectivity, noting that the route would provide easier travel access for tourists, business travellers, diaspora communities and participants in cultural exchange programmes.

The Barbados service is also expected to boost tourism, trade, investment and stronger people-to-people relations between West Africa and Caribbean nations.

Aviation analysts say the new route further strengthens Nigeria’s position as a growing aviation hub within Africa while expanding Air Peace’s international route network into underserved markets.

The airline added that the first commercial return flight from Barbados to Lagos was scheduled for May 25, with subsequent operations planned twice monthly as part of efforts to establish a sustainable air bridge between both regions.

The development marks another milestone in Air Peace’s expanding global operations and its strategy of opening new international routes that improve connectivity and deliver practical travel solutions for passengers.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has suspended its planned enforcement of the “No Pay, No Service” directive against domestic airlines over outstanding statutory remittances following extensive consultations with stakeholders and concerns over rising aviation fuel costs.

The regulatory authority said the temporary suspension was aimed at maintaining operational stability within the aviation sector while discussions continue on how airlines can settle outstanding obligations without disrupting operations.

In a statement, the NCAA clarified that the suspension did not amount to a waiver or cancellation of debts owed by airlines, stressing that all operators remained responsible for settling outstanding statutory charges.

The authority noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had already approved a 30 per cent concession on outstanding aviation charges owed by domestic carriers as part of government efforts to cushion the impact of high Jet A1 fuel prices on the sector.

According to the NCAA, the five per cent Ticket and Cargo Sales Charge remains a statutory levy established under the Civil Aviation Act and collected by airlines on behalf of the aviation ecosystem.

The agency explained that the remittances are critical for sustaining regulatory oversight and aviation safety operations, noting that the NCAA operates on a cost-recovery basis without direct Federal Government funding for daily activities.

Reacting to the development, the Airline Operators of Nigeria welcomed ongoing engagements with government but maintained that domestic airlines were not indebted to the NCAA for regulatory services rendered.

The umbrella body for domestic carriers stated that all regulatory services provided by the NCAA were paid for in advance before delivery, including aircraft inspections, licence validations and documentation renewals.

According to the association, the disputed issue relates specifically to the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, which it described as a statutory tax imposed on passengers rather than payment for regulatory services.

The AON further disclosed that several airlines had previously maintained dedicated accounts through which monthly remittances were processed until recent financial pressures caused by the global increase in aviation fuel costs and the Iran-Israel-USA conflict.

The association called on the Federal Government to amend the Civil Aviation Act to allow the NCAA collect statutory charges directly from passengers rather than through airlines acting as collection agents.

It argued that domestic operators currently bear additional banking and transaction costs associated with remitting the charges.

Despite the disagreement over the charges, both the NCAA and airline operators reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue aimed at preserving stability, safety and growth within Nigeria’s aviation industry.

A Lagos-bound aircraft operated by Air Peace on its London Gatwick route was forced to return safely to Nigeria after encountering airspace access issues during the journey.

The airline disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that the disruption affected its scheduled Lagos–London Gatwick service of May 13, 2026.

According to the airline, the aircraft returned to Lagos after operational concerns arose involving the airspace authorities of an African country during the flight.

Air Peace stated that the decision to return the aircraft was taken in line with international aviation safety procedures while urgent clarifications were sought from the relevant authorities.

Following the incident, the airline rescheduled the London Gatwick service and immediately notified affected passengers.

The carrier added that passengers received support services, communication updates, and other necessary assistance during the disruption.

Air Peace apologised for the inconvenience caused, stressing that the situation was beyond the airline’s control.

The airline also assured the flying public of its continued commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, and efficient passenger service across its operations.