In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, monitored by DAILY POST, Mr. Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace, a prominent Nigerian carrier, has raised serious allegations against foreign airlines operating on the Nigeria-UK route.
He claims that these foreign carriers are engaged in a covert conspiracy to eliminate Air Peace from international operations by drastically lowering airfares on the route.
Mr. Onyema expressed concerns about what he called an “unspoken alliance” among foreign airlines to use predatory pricing tactics to drive Air Peace out of the Nigeria-London market.
He emphasized the potential dire consequences of such actions, warning of significant economic losses and strains on the Nigerian currency if Air Peace is prematurely forced out of this lucrative route.
Air Peace recently launched direct flights from Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London on March 30, 2024, in response to what was perceived as an unequal Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The impact of Air Peace’s entry into the market was immediately felt as ticket prices on the Lagos-London route plummeted from as high as N3.5 million for economy seats to around N1.2 million, with established foreign airlines like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways compelled to slash their fares to remain competitive.
Despite this apparent success, Mr. Onyema lamented that foreign carriers are now fighting back aggressively.
He cited instances of challenges faced by Air Peace at Gatwick Airport, including difficulties with ground handling and space allocation, which he views as deliberate efforts to frustrate his airline’s operations.
Describing the situation as a “devilish conspiracy,” Mr. Onyema accused foreign airlines of engaging in underpricing tactics, selling tickets below cost and potentially with government support to drive Air Peace out of the market.
He urged other Nigerian airlines to join the Nigeria-UK route to break the monopoly currently enjoyed by foreign carriers.
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