In a surprising turn of events, Saudi Arabian authorities on Monday denied entry visas to all 264 passengers of Air Peace, raising concerns about a possible diplomatic dispute between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
The affected passengers, who had departed from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, via the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, on Sunday night, arrived in Jeddah on Monday only to be denied entry by Saudi immigration authorities, without any apparent reasons provided.
Diplomatic Concerns
There are growing fears that this incident might escalate into a diplomatic row between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Air Peace had initiated scheduled flights from Lagos and Kano on October 31, 2023, boasting high load factors.
Shock and Uncertainty
The sudden cancellation of visas surprised both passengers and airline personnel. The passengers had undergone the Advanced Passengers Prescreening System (APPS) during check-in, a process monitored by Saudi Arabian authorities before the flight departed Nigeria. The airline and passengers alike wonder if this was a deliberate strategy to deter Air Peace from continuing operations to the destination, especially given its consistently high load factors since the start of operations.
Reduction in Denials
Upon intervention by the Nigerian embassy, Saudi authorities reportedly reduced the number of passengers to be returned to Nigeria from 264 to 177. The situation adds a layer of complexity to the already fully booked flight scheduled to depart for Jeddah on Tuesday.
Industry Dynamics
Industry observers suspect aero-politics at play, suggesting that this might be an attempt to force the Nigerian carrier out of the route. Stakeholders emphasized the need for government intervention, advocating for reciprocity in response to such incidents.
Aero-Politics and Diplomacy
Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu, the CEO of Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, attributes Saudi Arabia’s actions to aero-politics and diplomacy. He urges the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene swiftly, emphasizing the importance of standing firmly with designated Nigerian carriers as flag carriers on international routes.
Ojikutu stresses the need for the government to support and designate Nigerian airlines operating abroad, similar to the approach taken by the United States, where all airlines are backed by the government and designated as flag carriers.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must not keep quiet. Nigeria must not keep quiet. Ideally, the government is expected to stand behind any of the country’s airlines that it designates to fly overseas,” Ojikutu said.
