In a statement released on Friday by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, the airline said preparations for the Brazil route are still ongoing and are being conducted in line with established international aviation procedures.
The carrier faulted reports describing the proposed service as a “scam,” saying such narratives misrepresented the diplomatic and regulatory processes required to launch a long-haul international route. According to Air Peace, the report relied on unverified information and was aimed at maligning the airline’s reputation.
“At no time did Air Peace or the Federal Government of Nigeria defraud Nigerians in Brazil or elsewhere regarding the Lagos–São Paulo route,” the statement said. “What has been deliberately ignored is that a Memorandum of Understanding is not a flight launch and does not translate to immediate operations.”
The airline recalled that in August 2025, the Nigerian government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brazil in Brasília, witnessed by the presidents of both countries, expressing intent for Air Peace to operate direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo. Following the agreement, an online medium had reported that the airline’s failure to commence operations amounted to a fraudulent promise, particularly affecting Nigerians living in Brazil.
Responding, Air Peace explained that an MoU represents a framework for bilateral cooperation under existing air service agreements and should not be misconstrued as an operational green light.
“An MoU is neither a ticket sale nor a flight schedule. It does not constitute a guarantee of immediate commencement of operations,” the airline said.
Addressing claims that Nigerians were stranded, Air Peace clarified that no tickets were sold and no booking platform was opened for the route. It added that no flight date was ever announced, making claims of stranded passengers illogical.
“There was no deception. What existed was self-imposed expectation, not a promise of service,” the statement said.
The airline stressed that launching long-haul international flights requires extensive regulatory and operational clearances that cannot be accelerated by publicity or political goodwill alone. These include implementation under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, approvals from Brazil’s civil aviation authority, airport slot allocations in São Paulo, safety and insurance clearances, Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) certification, as well as aircraft deployment and route-economics planning.
On capacity, Air Peace said it has the required equipment to operate the route, with four Boeing 777-200/300 aircraft in its fleet. It explained that two of the aircraft are currently deployed on its London Heathrow and Gatwick routes, while the remaining two are available for other long-haul destinations, including São Paulo, once all regulatory and commercial processes are completed.
The airline noted that its London operations took nearly seven years from conception to execution, cautioning against interpreting statements of intent or optimism as operational guarantees.
Air Peace also rejected claims that it was responsible for high international airfares on connecting routes, stating that it does not control foreign airlines or global pricing structures.
“The existence of an MoU does not, and cannot, automatically reduce international airfares,” the statement said.
Describing the allegations as pressure tactics, the airline characterised the report as “a deliberate act of blackmail sponsored by vested interests,” while warning against attempts to undermine Nigerian businesses through what it described as media manipulation.