Air Peace has disclosed that it lost about $42m in revenue following repeated damage to its aircraft by ground-handling companies, with three of its planes seriously affected within the past year.
The airline alleged that the two major ground-handling firms, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, damage its aircraft an average of twice annually.
The Punch reported that Air Peace spokesperson, Efe Whiskey, said the airline had recorded three major aircraft damage incidents in the last 12 months, including two this year.
“The number of ground handling accidents that we have experienced thus far, on average, SAHCO and NAHCO damage our aircraft at least twice a year.
“It might not be as big as the other ones, but we have had three major ones that have been destroyed within the past 12 months. One happened last year, and two happened this year.
“In total, we have had three in the period spanning 12 months. However, on average, they damage our aircraft twice in a year,” Whiskey said.
He explained that the financial consequences went beyond the cost of repairing the affected aircraft, as the airline also lost income whenever a damaged plane was taken out of service.
“The revenue lost so far, especially from one aircraft, is $42m. It is the airline, of course, that loses. They don’t pay for that revenue. They only pay for the damage,” Whiskey added.
According to him, the handling companies had agreed to spend $3.8m repairing the latest damaged aircraft, while $3.2m had already been paid towards the repair of another plane damaged on Boxing Day.
“So, they have agreed now that they are going to pay $3.8m to fix the latest one that they broke.
“Then the previous one that they broke on Boxing Day is $3.2m. They have paid $3.2m.”
Whiskey said the airline also incurred additional expenses when damaged aircraft or components had to be transported abroad for repairs.
“There are also scenarios where there is damage to aircraft, and we have to bring people from abroad to come and fix it. Either you bring people from abroad, or you try and fix a bit of the aircraft on your own. Then fly it there.
“So what we do is we remove the part of the aircraft and of course we ferry it over to those people over there, which costs $40m to ship damaged parts,” he said.
He added that the incidents also resulted in towing and cleaning expenses.
“Then towing, especially when it is damaged, and you are paying in dollars, that is $700 for towing and cleaning up the area where it is damaged. That is the least money that we have had from them,” he said.
The Air Peace spokesperson expressed concern that the airline could experience further incidents, pointing to the pattern of previous aircraft damage.
“According to our insurance predictions, they are going to damage our aircraft again this year based on previous reports and patterns that they have sent; we have seen that they are only damaging it like twice a year,” he said.
In December 2025, Air Peace experienced a major operational disruption after ground-handling equipment damaged one of its new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Boxing Day.
The incident affected the aircraft’s operations and caused disruptions to some flights.
The latest complaint is also not the first involving ground-handling equipment and Air Peace aircraft.
In January 2023, reports indicated that NAHCO equipment had damaged an Air Peace aircraft at the Lagos airport, with the airline raising concerns after describing it as the third incident involving NAHCO equipment within a month.
