Our Fares Are Lower Than Counterparts’ Fares Elsewhere, Says Air Peace
Nigeria’s foremost airline, Air Peace says it is unfair for Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to accuse the airline of charging exploitative fares because the airline’s fares on many Nigerian routes in a one hour flight, are lower than that of their counterparts in other parts of the world.
The airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide stated this over the weekend, while reacting to a media report that FCCPC was investigating Air Peace, accusing the airline of charging exploitative fares.
“It is really unfair that Air Peace is being accused of charging exploitative fares. What parameters were used to arrive at this conclusion? This needs to stop because the damage being done is not only to Air Peace but to all airports in Nigeria,” said Olajide.
She highlighted the challenges of local airlines in Nigeria such as N7 million fuel cost on an average one-hour flight, after borrowing at 30% interest rates from financial institutions, very high insurance costs and other challenges, wondering why Air Peace was singled out for the FCCPC investigation since the airline was not charging the highest fares on the various Nigerian routes.
Olajide said a lot of people would not be able to fly if Air Peace decides to charge the appropriate fares of over N600,000 on a one-hour flight instead of the less than N100,000 currently being charged.
Olajide noted that FCCPC ought to be making enquiries about any airline through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as the aviation regulatory body in Nigeria, rather than subjecting Air Peace and its brand to such media reports, adding that “if they had gone through the appropriate channel, we won’t be here.”
She noted that Air Peace had enjoyed tremendous support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keaymo (SAN), but that following the media reports about FCCPC investigating Air Peace, some countries being approached for slots by Air Peace had declined approval.
She said Air Peace management had already reported the matter to the ,Ministry of Trade and the Presidency.
Olajide further recalled the free patriotic services Air Peace had rendered on behalf of Nigeria in the past, rescuing stranded Nigerians from different parts of the world, adding that Presidents of some other countries had been inviting Air Peace to come and help them on the establishment of national airlines, due to the capacity and reputation of Air Peace.
