‘We Are Being Deliberately Frustrated In All Ways’ — Allen Onyema, CEO

Allen Onyema

ALLEN Onyema, CEO Of Air Peace, Criticizes International Carriers For Slashing Prices

Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace, an indigenous airline based in Nigeria, has expressed worry that foreign airlines that fly between Nigeria and the United Kingdom are planning to drive the airline out of business by driving down costs on the route.

Allen explained their behavior on Tuesday, April 9, as a tacit agreement amongst themselves to utilize cheaper prices to drive Air Peace off the Nigeria-London route.

“If they take out Air Peace prematurely, this country will pay dearly for it, 10 times over, billions will be lost, there will be another heavy strain on the naira,” he stated.

On March 30, 2024, Air Peace started offering direct flights from Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London, thus reversing the unfair Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK.

Businesswomen and businesspeople from the Trade and Investment Ministry, Doris Uzoka-Anita, and Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo were present on the first Lagos-London airliner.

More local airlines are being pushed to start operating international flights to lucrative routes, which has been applauded by many industry experts.

The cost of an international ticket on the Lagos-London route could reach N3.5 million, but since Air Peace is charging N1.2 million for a return economy class ticket, international carriers like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways have had to lower their rates in order to remain competitive.

According to the head of Air Peace, foreign airlines who fly the route are retaliating.

Onyema cited issues with space allocation and ground handling at Gatwick Airport during the past few days, saying, “We are being deliberately frustrated in all ways.”

“It's a very devilish conspiracy.”

“All of a sudden, (foreign) airlines are underpricing, below the cost, it's not up to one month, an airline was advertising $100, another one $305, $350. Fill up the entire aircraft and carry people on the wings, it's not even enough to buy your fuel. So, why are they doing that? Their governments are supporting them because Nigeria has been a cash cow for everybody.

“Their governments are supporting them to do this and take Air Peace out. The idea is to take Air Peace out and the moment they succeed in taking Air Peace out, Nigerians will pay 20 times over again.”

The head of the airline extended an invitation to other Nigerian airlines to join the Nigeria-UK route, so ending the exclusive rights held by foreign carriers that operate into the four primary gateway airports, namely Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt.

“I invite other Nigerian airlines to join the fray, let them come, let all of us do international operations. Yes, international aero politics is very dirty but somebody must pay the price” he said.

President Bola Tinubu and Keyamo were thanked by Onyema, who expressed their unwavering support for Air Peace even before the airline was founded. handles the political aspects of traveling to London.