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.
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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