The airline says three aircraft have suffered major damage in 12 months, with repairs running into millions of dollars and operations disrupted
Air Peace has raised fresh concerns over repeated aircraft damage by ground-handling companies, saying the incidents have caused about $42 million in lost revenue and seriously affected three of its aircraft within the past 12 months.
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The airline’s spokesperson, Efe Whiskey, disclosed the figures in a phone interview with our correspondent, attributing the incidents to ground-handling operations involving the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc, known as SAHCO, and the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, NAHCO.
Whiskey said Air Peace had recorded three major incidents within the 12-month period, with one occurring in 2025 and two in 2026.
“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,” Whiskey said.
He said the financial consequences went beyond the cost of repairing damaged aircraft because planes taken out of service could no longer generate revenue.
“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,” he added.
According to Whiskey, the ground-handling companies had agreed to pay $3.8 million towards repairs to the most recently damaged aircraft, while $3.2 million had already been paid for another aircraft 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,” he said.
“Then the previous one that they broke on Boxing Day is $3.2m. They have paid $3.2m.”
The airline also faces additional expenses when damaged components have to be removed and transported overseas for specialist repairs.
Whiskey said such logistics could involve bringing technical personnel into Nigeria or ferrying damaged aircraft components abroad, alongside towing and clean-up expenses.
He put the cost of shipping damaged parts at about $40 million in some scenarios, although it was not immediately clear whether that figure referred to cumulative costs associated with the incidents or a particular repair process.
The latest complaint follows a history of aircraft damage involving ground-handling equipment at Nigerian airports.
In January 2023, reports said NAHCO equipment had damaged an Air Peace aircraft at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with the airline raising concerns after describing it as the third incident involving NAHCO equipment within a month.
More recently, an Air Peace Airbus A320 was reported damaged on the ground at Lagos airport in July 2026 after a baggage conveyor vehicle collided with one of its engines.
The incident also generated discussion among aviation observers about the potentially significant financial consequences of ramp accidents.
Ground handling is a critical part of airport operations, covering activities such as baggage and cargo handling, aircraft servicing and ramp operations.
NAHCO itself describes aircraft handling as involving a range of ramp activities and says it has continued to invest in ground support equipment and training.
The company also operates an aviation training centre that provides programmes covering ground-handling operations, ground-support equipment and safety management.
Air Peace’s latest concerns therefore place renewed attention on the balance between efficient aircraft turnaround and the need for rigorous safety procedures around expensive aviation equipment.
Whiskey expressed concern that further incidents could occur, saying the airline’s experience and previous patterns had raised fears of another accident.
“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,” he said.
For Air Peace, the issue is not simply the repair bill attached to a damaged aircraft. Every aircraft removed from service can also mean cancelled or disrupted flights, lost revenue and additional logistical costs.
The airline’s claims, however, are allegations from its side of the dispute, and the specific responsibility and financial liability for individual incidents would depend on the circumstances and agreements governing each case.
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With Nigerian airlines increasingly dependent on complex ground-support operations, the recurring incidents highlight a pressing need for stronger ramp safety, equipment management and accountability across the aviation industry.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
