Adams Oshiomhole sparked controversy on Wednesday when passengers filmed him confronting Air Peace staff at the airport. The senator claimed airline personnel denied him a boarding pass after the check-in counter closed, despite completing online check-in before arriving at the terminal.
Aviation expert Captain Roland Iyayi has explained the standard procedures that airlines follow regarding passenger boarding, explaining how late arrivals can result in denied boarding even with completed online check-in.
Captain Iyayi outlined the industry-standard boarding process during an interview with Arise TV from 2:13. “The standard practice internationally is that you have a cut-off time at the check-in. Beyond the cut-off time at the check-in, you also have a cut-off time at the gate,” he explained.
The aviation expert emphasized that possessing a boarding pass does not guarantee flight access if passengers arrive late. “It doesn’t necessarily matter that you have a boarding pass that’s issued at the check-in. Beyond the check-in, if you’re late to the gate; you will not be able to get on the flight,” Iyayi stated.
According to him, airlines typically enforce boarding deadlines between 30 and 45 minutes before departure for both international and domestic flights based on the peculiar nature of the environment in which they operate.
The captain described the two-stage cutoff system airlines use. “Once that time is set, it means that the check-in counter closes. Now, there’s another time set for when you board at the gate. If you get to the gate and you’re 10 minutes late or you’re 10 minutes before the departure, the gate is closed. It’s standard practice everywhere in the world.”
Captain Iyayi addressed broader allegations about Air Peace’s handling of flight delays and ticket cancellations by clarifying the division of responsibilities within airport terminals.
He clarified that the airport terminal is held and controlled by the airport company, which in Nigeria is the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). According to Captain Iyayi, all the services passengers receive throughout their journey in the airport – from check-in to sitting in the lounge until getting to the aircraft – are all provided by FAAN, which is why passengers pay the passenger service charge that belongs to FAAN, not the airline.
Captain Iyayi emphasized that anything that happens in the terminal building is FAAN’s responsibility. He explained that after checking in with the airline, passengers must go through screening points that are manned by Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria personnel, noting that any delays at these points ultimately impact airline operations.
