Re: Dead On Arrival: Air Peace’s Lagos-London Flights Controversies

The attention of African Travel Times has been drawn to the interview in which Allen Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Nigeria and West Africa’s largest airline, referred to articles by www.cable.ng and www.africantraveltimes.com. These articles cautioned that the airline may encounter difficulties if it proceeds with the plan for the Lagos, Nigeria-Gatwick, London route starting on Saturday, March 30th, 2024.

In the TVC interview, Onyema stated that internal resistance in Nigeria, as well as opposition from the British administration, contributed to the challenges in securing the route, despite the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement [BASA], Memorandum of Understanding [MoU], and their associated implementing procedures providing for technical cooperation between national civil aviation authorities of the two countries.

He noted, “Negative consequences of bad news, such as the tabloid’s ‘Dead On Arrival’ prognosis, which he saw as a symptom of the country’s fundamental issues and jealousy.”

He further stated, “From Nigeria here, we were being stopped by our own people for 4 years and they were conniving with whoever to do that.”

Referring to the articles, Onyema said, “A Nigerian tabloid was writing, ‘Dead On Arrival’ that Air Peace will not succeed.” He added, “That will tell you the wickedness in the system in this country; and the envy has driven some people to a point that they have lost it.”

Onyema argued, “It’s not about Air Peace, it’s not about Allen Onyema and that Allen Onyema does not own Air Peace any longer that Air Peace is owned by the over 220 million Nigerians.”

Unfortunately, Allen Onyema’s assertions stem from his failure to understand the argument advanced by the articles. His uninformed refrain and refusal to heed the ominous warnings raised necessitate this follow-up write-up.

The publications were based on first-hand experiences; several aviation and travel analysts are skeptical about the viability and capacity of Air Peace to see through this difficult and complicated arrangement with the Norwegian low-cost airline.

According to an earlier report attributed to Air Peace, Norse Atlantic, a Norwegian low-cost airline, will provide crew and aircraft to Air Peace for its Lagos-London operations.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Norse operates under a charter known as an ACMI contract. In aviation terms, an ACIM contract, also known as wet or damp leasing, is an agreement between two airlines where the lessor provides an aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance [ACMI] to the lessee in return for payment based on the number of block hours operated.

Apart from the complications and challenges of the arrangement between Norse Atlantic and Air Peace, the anticipated low load factor that Virgin Nigeria once suffered on that route, as well as the purported fares that the airline has been promoting, would not be enough to cover associated costs.

Also, an aviation website, Simply Flying, reported earlier that Nigeria’s Air Peace will operate flights to London Gatwick with Norse Atlantic Boeing 787s and will be using Air Peace’s slots at London Gatwick Airport to connect Gatwick and Lagos, Nigeria, initially for two months starting in April 2024, with the possibility of a long-term agreement.

Simply Flying also confirmed that the low-cost carrier will operate four flights a week between London Gatwick Airport and Lagos Murtala Mohammed Airport on behalf of Air Peace.

Already, the advertised fares have risen well above what is being promoted. This reporter attempted to book an economy return ticket for March 30th, returning on April 14th, 2024. The fare advertised at N1.2 million is now going for N1.5 million on the Air Peace website.

Every Nigerian wants a national carrier or Nigerian private airline that would compete with all international airlines, but such an airline must demonstrate capacity, competence, and integrity. Hence, the information provided in our first article for the management of Air Peace to take all necessary precautions, which sadly are not being heeded now.

This African Travel Times reporter witnessed and experienced the catastrophic operations of Virgin Nigeria on the Lagos-Gatwick route several years ago as a passenger and a travel writer.

Without any iota of doubt, Nigeria need a national carrier like yesterday and those masquerading and pretending they have the capacity and resources to run one on behalf of the country are mere pretenders as have been proven overtime that no Nigerian individual or corporate organisation can do it because of the enormous resources require to set up a big, strong and reliable airline or national carrier that would challenge the domination of foreign airlines.

Before the first article was published, this reporter contacted and requested clarifications from a top management officer of Air Peace who never responded before press time.

By Our Reporter