Air Peace has disclosed that it has lost about $42 million in revenue as a result of repeated damage to its aircraft by ground-handling companies, with the airline saying three of its aircraft have suffered major damage within the past 12 months.
The airline’s spokesperson, Efe Whiskey, disclosed this while speaking with PUNCH, explaining that the financial losses went beyond the cost of repairing the damaged aircraft because the planes were unable to operate while undergoing repairs.
According to Whiskey, Air Peace has experienced three major aircraft-damage incidents in the past year, with two occurring in 2026. He alleged that the two major ground-handling companies operating in the country, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), damage Air Peace aircraft an average of twice a year.
He said the airline had lost approximately $42 million in revenue from one aircraft alone while it remained grounded following damage.
“The revenue lost so far, especially from one aircraft, is $42m,” Whiskey said, adding that the handling companies only cover the cost of the physical damage and do not compensate the airline for revenue lost while an aircraft is out of service.
The airline also disclosed that the handling companies had agreed to pay $3.8 million towards repairs for its most recently damaged aircraft. Another aircraft damaged on Boxing Day had already attracted a $3.2 million repair payment.
However, Air Peace said the financial consequences of the incidents extend beyond these repair bills. In some cases, damaged aircraft components have to be removed and transported overseas for specialised repairs, resulting in additional logistical expenses.
Whiskey explained that the airline sometimes has to bring foreign specialists into Nigeria or send damaged aircraft components abroad for repairs. These processes, he said, add considerably to the overall cost of each incident.
Additional expenses include aircraft towing and cleaning the area where an incident occurs. The airline said such costs can further increase the financial burden associated with ground-handling accidents.
The latest complaint follows a series of incidents involving Air Peace aircraft and ground-handling equipment. In December 2025, one of the airline’s new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft was reportedly damaged by ground-handling equipment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The incident affected the aircraft’s operations and contributed to disruptions involving the airline’s flight schedule.
Air Peace also recalled an incident in January 2023 when a NAHCO ground-handling equipment reportedly damaged one of its aircraft at Lagos airport. At the time, the airline raised concerns over repeated incidents involving ground-handling operations.
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