For an airline that has become a symbol of Nigeria’s growing aviation ambition, Air Peace is no stranger to public scrutiny. Over the years, the carrier has built a reputation as a bold, homegrown success story through expanding routes, challenging international dominance, and positioning itself as a pride of the local industry. But alongside that growth has come a steady stream of mixed passenger experiences, many of them playing out on social media.
That contrast came into sharp focus recently when Nollywood star Funke Akindele publicly called out the airline over a frustrating travel experience, detailing delays and what she described as poor passenger welfare. Her account quickly gained traction, sparking fresh conversations about service standards and accountability.
Yet, in a twist that underscores the airline’s complicated reputation, veteran comedian Alibaba Akpobome offered a different perspective.
Together, their opposing accounts highlight a broader reality: for many passengers, Air Peace represents both reliability and frustration, depending on who you ask.
Here are experiences shared by public figures below:
Funke Akindele — The Gatwick Incident
The latest wave of scrutiny around Air Peace was sparked by a detailed and emotional callout from Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, who documented her experience at London’s Gatwick Airport on May 1, 2026.
In a series of posts shared on X, Akindele described a long and exhausting delay that left passengers stranded for hours with little clarity on what was happening. She wrote:
“Passengers (including elderly people) have been stranded since 6:30AM at London Gatwick Airport with no proper communication… Elderly passengers are struggling. Families are tired. No clear updates. No support.”
She went further, calling on the airline to act urgently:
“Release passengers’ luggage immediately and provide the hotel you promised. Do something NOW.”
Alongside her posts, the actress shared a video showing visibly tired passengers, which included the elderly. They were seated around the baggage claim area, reinforcing the urgency and human impact of her claims. In a follow-up update hours later, she noted that the situation had barely improved:
“Since 7AM… and it’s almost 4PM no bags, no hotel, no proper updates. Passengers are stranded. People are tired and hungry.”
Her posts quickly gained traction, not just because of her influence, but because they captured a familiar frustration among air travellers that delays are expected, but lack of communication and care is harder to overlook.
Hours after the posts went viral, Air Peace responded directly, acknowledging the situation while appealing for patience. The airline later issued a detailed press statement, offering its side of the story. According to Air Peace, the disruption was caused by a bird strike. It’s a recognised aviation safety risk that required the aircraft to be grounded for full inspection.
They maintained that Passengers were informed of the situation, hotel accommodation (at Hilton London Gatwick) was arranged and delays in baggage retrieval were due to airport ground handling constraints, not directly controlled by the airline
Alibaba Akpobome — The Praise That Shifted the Tone
While the backlash from Funke Akindele was still gaining momentum, veteran comedian Alibaba Akpobome on the same day, May 1, introduced a very different narrative that highlighted efficiency and follow-through rather than frustration.
In a characteristically humorous Instagram post, Alibaba shared how Air Peace successfully recovered his lost iPad months after he had given up hope:
“I actually thought it was lost and gone forever… since February 28th… finally @flyairpeace found my iPad. Thank you @flyairpeace.”
Alibaba’s post was not just a simple appreciation post. It quickly turned into a lighthearted, extended story with jokes about the rising cost of gadgets, playful jabs at the person who helped retrieve the device, and his trademark comedic tone. But beneath the humour was a clear message that the airline followed through on a passenger issue long after the initial incident.
Unlike Akindele’s real-time frustration during a disruption, Alibaba’s experience reflects a different side of customer service
But beyond these two contrasting accounts, a look at past incidents shows that mixed experiences with Air Peace are far from new.
Tacha Akide — When Delays Turn Personal
For reality TV star Tacha Akide, frustrations with Air Peace reached a boiling point in April 2026, in what became one of her most emotional public callouts yet.
In a series of videos shared across Instagram and TikTok, Tacha documented what she described as a chaotic travel experience that ultimately derailed an important personal commitment. She had booked an early morning 6:00 AM flight to Abuja for the wedding of her close friend and fellow BBNaija star, Cross Okonkwo. According to her account, she arrived at the airport as early as 5:00 AM, only for the flight to face repeated delays stretching over several hours. By late morning, the situation escalated further when the flight was eventually cancelled.
Visibly upset in the videos, Tacha did not hold back. She described the airline in harsh terms, calling it a “scam organization” and “wicked,” while alleging that tickets had been issued despite insufficient aviation fuel to operate the flight. The incident, she said, meant she missed key moments leading up to the wedding and possibly the ceremony itself. She added that it turned what should have been a joyful trip into a deeply frustrating experience.
The emotional weight of the situation was evident. Unlike routine complaints about delays, this was tied to a time-sensitive, personal event, making the impact more immediate and relatable. Her videos quickly gained traction, drawing reactions from fans and travellers who have faced similar last-minute disruptions.
This was not the first time Tacha had voiced concerns about service within the aviation space. In 2025, she also criticised the conduct of airline cabin crew, accusing some air hostesses of showing preferential treatment toward male passengers particularly in business class while being less accommodating to female travellers.
Taken together, Tacha’s experiences highlight a recurring theme seen across multiple accounts that while delays and cancellations are not uncommon in aviation, the handling of those disruptions and how passengers are treated in the moment often shapes the loudest reactions.
Adams Oshiomhole — Clash at the Airport
In June 2025, a confrontation between Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Air Peace at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport quickly escalated into one of the airline’s most high-profile public disputes.
Oshiomhole accused the airline of “organized exploitation,” alleging that passengers who booked cheaper tickets online were being denied boarding so seats could be resold at higher walk-in prices. He claimed he arrived shortly after 6:00 AM for a 6:30 AM flight, had checked in the night before, and was still turned back, while others were asked to pay extra to get on subsequent flights. He also said he rejected any preferential treatment, choosing instead to stand with other affected passengers.
Air Peace, however, pushed back strongly. The airline maintained that the senator arrived late, after boarding had closed, and insisted there was no record of his online check-in. It also accused him of disruptive behaviour at the terminal, claims he did not accept. The airline further argued that the flight in question departed with empty seats, dismissing suggestions of overbooking or racketeering.
The standoff drew national attention and prompted intervention from Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, who ordered an investigation into the incident.
Mr Jollof — Frustration from a Frequent Flyer
Comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, widely known as Mr Jollof, added his voice to the growing list of complaints against Air Peace in August 2024, speaking not as a one-time passenger but as a frequent flyer who claimed to have used the airline dozens of times within the year.
In a candid social media post, Mr Jollof expressed frustration over what he described as persistent delays, questioning the broader impact on passengers who rely on timely travel for business and personal commitments. He pointedly asked who should bear the cost of missed opportunities and financial losses caused by repeated disruptions.
Recounting one of his experiences, he described booking a 3 PM flight to Abuja that was eventually delayed until 9:30 PM. According to him, the only explanation provided at the time was “operational issues and schedule maintenance”. He said he found the explanation increasingly difficult to accept given how often such delays occurred.
His criticism went beyond personal inconvenience. At one point, he suggested that if the airline struggled to maintain consistent schedules, it might need to reconsider its operations altogether, even making a sarcastic remark that it could be better suited for a different line of business. He also called on Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, to step in with stricter oversight and sanctions for airlines that fail to treat passengers fairly.
Eve Esin — From Frustration to Resolution
In August 2024, Nollywood actress Eve Esin added her voice to the growing list of public complaints against Air Peace, following a last-minute disruption that threatened her work schedule.
Esin had booked a business class ticket to Asaba for a film project, only for the flight to be abruptly cancelled on the day of travel. What appeared to frustrate her most was not just the cancellation itself, but the lack of a clear and practical alternative. According to her account, she was advised to consider rerouting through cities like Benin or Anambra. She added that the option would have required additional cost and coordination on her part. When she pushed back, asking who would cover those extra expenses, she claimed she was told to head to the airport and take a “50-50 chance” on securing a seat on another flight.
Visibly displeased, the actress took to Instagram, describing the airline’s service as a “joke” and warning, “I will drag this brand,” a statement that quickly drew attention online. For Esin, the issue went beyond inconvenience. She pointed out that she had travelled specifically for the job and did not reside in Abuja, meaning the cancellation directly disrupted her professional commitment and production schedule.
However, unlike some other high-profile complaints, this incident took a more conciliatory turn. Days after her initial outburst, Esin returned with an update, confirming that the situation had been addressed. While she did not go into full detail about the resolution, she used the moment to call for greater accountability and improvements across Nigerian systems, suggesting that her goal was not just to vent frustration, but to push for better service standards.
Nkechi Blessing Sunday — A Pattern of Public Frustration
Long before the recent spotlight triggered by Funke Akindele, actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday had already built a reputation as one of the most vocal critics of Air Peace, repeatedly calling out the airline over what she described as inconsistent service and passenger inconvenience.
Her complaints have not been limited to a single incident, but rather a series of experiences that, over time, painted a picture of recurring issues. In January 2024, she publicly criticised the airline after her business class ticket for a flight to Asaba was downgraded to economy. According to her account, she had arrived at the airport about 45 minutes before departure, only to be informed that the aircraft available for the trip did not have a business class section. The situation was further compounded by a delay of more than two hours, turning what should have been a routine trip into a frustrating ordeal.
By July 2024, her tone had grown even sharper. In a viral Instagram post, she described Air Peace as the “most useless airline” after a 1:00 PM flight was first rescheduled to 3:00 PM and then pushed again to 5:20 PM. Frustrated by the repeated delays, she issued a public ultimatum demanding a refund, warning that she would continue to speak out if the issue was not addressed. Beyond delays, she also accused the airline of causing her to miss important business meetings in Abuja due to frequent schedule changes, reinforcing her claim that the disruptions were not isolated incidents but part of a wider pattern.
Her criticism has also extended to the cost of flying. In February 2024, she expressed shock at rising ticket prices, referencing a fare as high as ₦9 million and joking that she might have to abandon business class altogether because it was becoming unsustainable. While some of her remarks were delivered with humour, the underlying message remained clear: for her, the experience of flying with Air Peace had become increasingly unpredictable, both in service and cost.
Taken together, Nkechi Blessing’s repeated outbursts offer something different from a one-off viral moment. They suggest a sustained dissatisfaction that mirrors the experiences of many everyday passengers, adding weight to the ongoing conversation about consistency, reliability, and customer service in Nigeria’s aviation space.
Jerry Amilo — The Pricing Controversy
In December 2023, veteran Nollywood actor Jerry Amilo took a different angle in his criticism of Air Peace, shifting the conversation from delays and cancellations to the issue of ticket pricing, particularly during the high-demand festive season.
In a strongly worded callout, Amilo accused the airline and its CEO, Allen Onyema, of what he described as exploitative fares on South East routes. He highlighted what he saw as a glaring imbalance: a short flight from Lagos to cities like Asaba or Anambra costing significantly more—reportedly around ₦266,000—while longer routes, such as Lagos to Maiduguri, were priced far lower at approximately ₦150,000.
Clearly frustrated, the actor framed his criticism in personal and cultural terms, directly addressing Onyema as a “brother” and questioning why such pricing would make it difficult for people from the South East to travel home during the holidays. He went further to suggest a form of partiality, arguing that while the airline had been praised for humanitarian interventions in other contexts, it appeared to be placing an economic strain on a core segment of its passengers during one of the most important travel periods of the year.
In response, Air Peace firmly denied any form of discrimination or targeted pricing. The airline explained that its fare structure is driven by an automated, tiered pricing system where ticket costs increase as seats are filled. According to the airline, this system is applied uniformly across all routes, regardless of region.
Air Peace also pointed to operational realities during festive travel, noting that while flights into the South East are often fully booked around Christmas, return trips to Lagos frequently operate with low passenger numbers. This imbalance, they argued, affects overall cost management and contributes to higher outbound fares during peak demand periods.
Tonto Dikeh — A Blunt, Viral Takedown
Before her new found faith and self-reformation, back in December 2021, actress Tonto Dikeh delivered one of the most direct and widely circulated criticisms of Air Peace, using unusually strong language to describe her experience with the airline.
In a series of posts that quickly went viral at the time, Dikeh did not hold back, labeling the carrier the “worst airline in the history of being alive.” Her frustration touched on multiple aspects of the travel experience, starting with what she described as poor hygiene standards onboard. She complained about the condition of the aircraft, stating that the planes “smell so bad,” a remark that drew significant attention for its bluntness and shock value.
Beyond hygiene, she also highlighted repeated scheduling disruptions. According to her account, a single flight was rescheduled multiple times in one morning. It moved from 6:18 AM to 7:15 AM, then to 8:15 AM, before eventually being pushed to 11:30 AM. The repeated delays, she suggested, reflected deeper issues with coordination and reliability.
Her criticism extended to the airline’s management, which she described as “careless, disorganized, and highly unprofessional”.
Years later, the moment still stands out as one of the earliest high-profile celebrity callouts of Air Peace in the social media era. And while the language was extreme, it reinforced a pattern that continues to surface in more recent accounts: delays, service concerns, and the way those experiences are communicated to the public.
Conclusion
From the frustration of Funke Akindele to the measured praise of Alibaba Akpobome, and the string of public complaints that stretch across years, one thing is clear: Air Peace occupies a complicated space in Nigeria’s aviation story.
For some passengers, it delivers reliability, responsiveness, and even unexpected recovery of lost items. For others, it represents delays, disrupted plans, and service gaps that quickly spill into public view. The difference often lies not just in what happens, but in how those moments are handled.
As the airline continues to expand and operate under increasing scrutiny, each new experience—good or bad—adds to a reputation that is still evolving. In the end, Air Peace is both a symbol of local ambition and a reminder that in aviation, consistency is everything and passengers are paying close attention.
