- Safiu Kehinde
In the wake of the drama involving former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole, and management of Nigerian local airline, Air Peace, several Nigerians have stepped up to share their ugly experiences with local airlines.
NPO Reported that Oshiomole had yesterday come to the spotlight after creating scenes at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, where he allegedly barricaded Air Peace’s departure terminal after missing his flight.
The ex-Edo governor had allegedly disrupted the airline’s operation, sealing its entry point which left many passengers stranded.
Air Peace in a statement issued shortly after the incident also accused Oshiomole of physically assaulting its staff.
As against the allegations, the Edo lawmaker would on Wednesday evening give his side of the story.
Oshiomole recounted how he had arrived at the airport around 6:10am for his flight billed to take off by 6:30am.
Prior to his arrival, the lawmaker claimed to have checked in, using the airline’s online.
He would however be denied access to the flight as the officials cited his late arrival for the denial despite being checked in online.
Oshiomole further accused Air Peace of extorting passengers, alleging that the airline officials resold already booked slot at higher prices to other passengers.
His ordeal had since generated reactions from netizens who also shared their experiences with local airlines across the country.
Reacting in a post on his X handle, Godwin Enakhena, Chairman of Sporting Lagos Football Club, narrated how he had arrived at Air Peace terminal at 6:15am for a flight scheduled to take off by 7am only to be told that the counter has been closed.
However, ticket for the same flight declared closed were still being sold to some passengers at a higher price.
“I booked a 7am Airpeace flight to Abuja and I got to the airport by 6:15am only to be told that they’ve closed their counter.
“But right there, area boys were selling same Airpeace tickets for thrice the original amount. I got another airline. Airpeace own don dey too much o!” He wrote.
Enakhena also shared his experience with Ibom Airlines.
He recounted how the airline rescheduled the flight of his staff who still ended up missing the flight despite arriving at the airport before the new scheduled time.
“ibomairlines showed me shege in April. We had just finished the Niger Delta Sports Festival and two of my coaches were on the 5:30pm flight to Abuja. I got a message that the flight was now 3:30pm. We got to the airport by 1pm but the plane had left by 12:30pm. I’ve more to say.” He added.
Another X user, Akhmed Adekunle, disclosed how he was made to pay additional fee for a rescheduled flight by Rano airline despite catching up with the flight he initially booked.
“That is the game. I got to the Abuja airport 6:30 am and rano told me counter don close . I was made to pay 60k to reschedule…plane was still on ground and left 7:15 oooo. We check manifest, no seat was vacant 😂” He wrote.
Another X user simply identified as Kay disclosed that passengers of Rano Airline are expected to arrive as early as 5am regardless of the time scheduled for their flight.
“For Rano Air you have to be there by 5:00 or else it’s no show.” Kay wrote.
More netizens also shared their experiences and lessons learnt in the course of boarding Nigerian local airlines.
“People that shuffle Abuja , PH , Lagos, Una Dey try oo. No day, no week way Airpeace no go cancel or delay flight.”@afobaba24.
“But I share your sentiments. I was once on Ibom Queue in Abuja long before the deadline for closing the counter. By the time it was 40min to the flight, they simply stopped checking people in and told everyone left on the Queue they could no longer check them in. To them it didn’t matter how long you had been standing on that Queue, the trumpet sounded and you were still on the Queue. When was check in expected to close officially for local airlines in Nigeria?
40 mins to the time of the flight.
That time means you are at the check in counter or on the queue before 40min to your flight. It doesn’t really matter if the flight was empty or not.”@Kayode Alao