United Nigeria Chairman Urges Support For Air Peace As Foreign Airlines Employ Predatory Pricing

Posted on April 13, 2024
ULOKA CHIBUIKE 
 
 
In the wake of the historic inaugural flight by Air Peace from Lagos to London Gatwick on March 30, 2024, Nigerians continue to celebrate while competitor airlines on the same route are slashing prices, signaling heightened competition in the market.
The Lagos-London route, long dominated by foreign airlines charging exorbitant fares, witnessed a dramatic shift when Air Peace entered the scene, reducing round-trip fares by 55%. In response, other foreign carriers have begun to follow suit, some even undercutting Air Peace. Analysts speculate this move as an attempt to edge Air Peace out of the market and not healthy business competition.
Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines and Spokesperson of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Professor Obiora Okonkwo, OFR, has urged Nigerians to rally behind Air Peace and advocate for continued government support for indigenous airlines, including United Nigeria Airlines, poised to join Air Peace on the London route.
Speaking on Arise TV News Night programme, Prof Okonkwo, who was aboard Air Peace’s inaugural London flight, expressed joy and satisfaction, stating his long-standing predictions are coming to fruition. He emphasized the potential of indigenous operators to offer more competitive pricing, citing the high costs Nigerians have borne on foreign airlines.
Okonkwo commended Barr. Allen Onyema for Air Peace’s achievement, portraying the inaugural flight as a milestone for all Nigerians. He warned against misconstruing the sudden price drops by foreign carriers as mere competition, labeling it as a conspiracy to eliminate Air Peace from the market.
He cautioned that the drastic fare reductions by foreign operators constitute predatory pricing aimed at destabilizing Air Peace and other potential Nigerian operators. Okonkwo urged the Nigerian government to remain vigilant and support indigenous operators against the “Anti-Trust” strategy of the foreign airlines, who can afford to record huge losses just to remain in the lucrative Lagos – London market and still receive bailouts from their country and banks, a privilege not available for both Air Peace and other local operators. He denounced the antitrust tactic as economic sabotage and called for investigation and possible prosecution.
Okonkwo continued his call for policy reforms to enable indigenous operators to access capital assets, facilitating their expansion into various routes and breaking potential monopolies in the global aviation industry.

One response to “United Nigeria Chairman Urges Support For Air Peace As Foreign Airlines Employ Predatory Pricing”

  1. Reuben Nwako says:

    It’s good for the Federal government to support Air Peace Airline but the local airlines should also cut down the cost of local flights. I traveled to Enugu on the 30th of March and United Airline collected #200k for economy seat for 45 mins flight, while return ticket was #138k. United Airline has no moral justification to criticize foreign airlines. Air Peace Airline too should stop charging exhorbitant fees locally. Their charges are high weekends. That should stop too

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

MICHAEL AKINOLA    A 53-year old landlady, Adeola Olaitan Bankole, has landed in trouble... Continue
UCHE NNADOZIE I remember when I wrote WAEC and JAMB—it was tough. Back then,... Continue
State Governments have been charged to embrace and entrench community-based interventions that will curb... Continue
AISHA ABUBAKAR  Four men, Nafi’u Isah, Haruna Ya’u, Nadabo Mohammed and Sa’adu Musa,  have... Continue
A 14-year old boy can finally wear shoes for the first time in his... Continue
AISHA ABUBAKAR  A woman, Mrs. Harira Muhammad Tudun Murtala, has landed in trouble for... Continue
The administration of Hon. Segun Odunmbaku has delivered 500 pairs of desks and benches... Continue
Lagos Health District IV has commenced its robust implementation of the 2025 National Immunisation... Continue
MICHAEL AKINOLA  A  26-year-old man, David Isaiah, has been sentenced to death by hanging... Continue
    The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., in the... Continue

UBA

DANGOTE AD

GLO


Access Bank

Twitter

Sponsored