Yesterday marked a significant milestone for the Nigerian aviation industry and its stakeholders, as Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline, launched its first flight from Lagos to London.
This event, which saw over 260 passengers on board, comes seven years after the last local airline, Medview, operated on this highly profitable international route.
The inaugural flight, operated with a Boeing 777, was celebrated with a short ceremony at the New Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Before boarding the flight, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, expressed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration aims to fully support Nigerian carriers in operating profitable international routes. This includes assisting them in acquiring aircraft on dry lease and reducing aircraft insurance costs.
Keyamo highlighted that Air Peace’s London flight has compelled foreign airlines to reduce their fares, making ticket prices highly competitive. He added that Nigerian carriers would prioritize passenger comfort, including serving Nigerian food on flights.
Echoing Keyamo’s sentiments, Mr. Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, confirmed that their London flight has prompted other international carriers to lower their fares. This has led to an appreciation of the naira, as Air Peace sells its tickets in the local currency.
Keyamo further stated, “This flight ensures passenger comfort, including the serving of Nigerian food. We are already seeing competitive prices on international routes. Other airlines have now offered lower fare tickets to Nigerians because of Air Peace’s entry into the market. This is a strong approach to breaking the monopoly on this route.”
He also emphasized that there would be no issue of trapped funds as Air Peace is a local company that operates in naira. This reduces the pressure on the naira as there is no need for massive repatriation of funds, a common issue with foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.
Onyema assured Nigerians that Air Peace would uphold international standards on the route in terms of equipment quality, in-flight service, and food. He also noted that their London flight has forced other international carriers to review their fares, saving the country billions of naira in the last three weeks and contributing to the strengthening of the naira against the dollar.
