… promises Nigeria best fare option

From left Mr Dayo Adeola, Chairman, Board of Trustees, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA; Mrs Susan Akporiaye, President, NANTA; Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman, Air Peace; Mrs. Alice Onyema, Vice Chairman, Air Peace; and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace during the Air Peace Travel Agents Forum for the launch of the airline’s London route held in Lagos on Thursday.

As a patriotic Nigerian committed to the course of the nation, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace of the renowned Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, Doctor Allen Onyema, has announced that it would offer Nigerians studying in the UK special fares as the airline commences Lagos-London flight from March 30, 2024.

This is just as he promised that Air Peace flying Lagos to London would put an end to the history of high fares on the route.

Onyema disclosed this in Lagos, during the airline’s engagement session with travel agents on Thursday, stressing that it is targeted at helping the Nigerian students studying in the UK to visit home on holidays.

While unveiling the special package for students, he urged the agents to ensure the offer was not abused by passengers, noting that the special fares will make it easy and affordable for students to return to Nigeria during holidays and travel back at resumption.

He said that he decided to give this offer to young Nigerians studying in the UK to help them connect with home regularly so that they would not stay permanently overseas and get acculturated.

“Several parents have been disconnected from their children. Many students have not been home for over two years because their parents cannot afford return fares to London. Parents will no longer suffer to raise money for fares for their children because the student fares will be affordable for all parents.

“My children all schooled abroad and we insisted that they return to Nigeria during their school breaks no matter how short the duration of the holidays. This is to enable us to remain connected to our children and ensure they stick to our values and culture.

“I know this is also the desire of several other parents but this desire has been cut short because of high fares travelling to and from Nigeria, but this narrative will change as soon as Air Peace commences flights to London,” Onyema said.

He explained that the Air Peace London route was borne out of his love for Nigeria and to put an end to high fares from Nigeria to London and back, promising that the airline would give Nigerians the best option in terms of fares.

The travel agents were elated when the Air Peace Chairman promised to offer them commission and assured that the airline would charge competitive and affordable fares on the route.

Checks show that currently, the cheapest economy class return ticket from Nigeria to London cost about N1.6 million and fares in the last two years have risen by over 400 per cent as a result of passenger traffic on the route, the depreciating Naira and foreign airlines trapped funds in Nigeria.

The Chairman of Airlines and Passengers’ Joint Committee (APJC) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Bankole Bernard, told newsmen at the event that Air Peace’s London flight is a welcome idea, especially as Nigeria would now  have its own carrier creating balance of trade which is not tilted to one side.

“There will be a bit of balance. Air Peace has been given a daily slot to Gatwick which amounts to seven frequencies, compared to 21 frequencies that the legacy airlines have; 14 in Lagos and seven in Abuja. To an extent, we have something that will balance it up.

“Air Peace is not going to be faced with foreign exchange challenges because the fares will be in naira. It is a welcome idea for travel agents and Nigeria as a whole. We appeal to Air Peace to try its best to sustain the London route. We are willing to give them all the support to ensure this is successful. With Air Peace, travel agents envisage a 50 per cent fare reduction in fares,” Bernard said.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Air Peace, Oluwatoyin Olajide, during her speech at the event said the London route means a lot to Nigeria because its indigenous airline will be operating to London with affordable fares and good service.

She said it is also good for Air Peace for several reasons, major one being that it marks the airline’s historic entry into the European market.

Olajide said the service will be operated with the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, one of the most modern and efficient aircraft in the skies.

She also said the airline will be launching with special promo fares and attractive plans for agents.

“We shall be operating daily and this service will also offer several other benefits which will give Air Peace an edge over the competition.

“It is a direct flight without stop-overs and offers unbeatable fares. We want you to know that Air Peace’s operational expansion and milestones are driven by our ambition to continually connect cities and ease the burden of air travel while fostering economic prosperity across nations,” she added.

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