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How international conspiracy threatens Airpeace with journey to Golgotha

MD/CEO of Airpeace, Allen Onyema, Airpeace plane

 

 

By Victory Oghene

Airpeace, a thriving, highly successful indigenous airlines ever since its establishment in 2013 has been faced with numerous challenges, mostly arising from turf war hatched by what seems like international airlines conspiracy to throw away indigenous challenge to their dominance.

But in spite of all the challenges Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of the top rated airline has been able to surmount the challenges to the admiration of stakeholders.

Earlier in August, there was a near diplomatic confrontation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom over the poor treatment meted out to Air Peace.

It was a big issue such that as of August the Nigerian government was losing patience over the matter. If not because diplomatic tact was allowed to prevail, the misunderstanding between the United Kingdom aviation authorities and a Nigerian airline, Air Peace airline would have led to another diplomatic row similar to the one that occurred in 1984 during the administration of retired major general Muhammadu Buhari when government impounded the British plane in retaliation for similar treatment meted out to Nigerian plane over the Umaru Dikko affair.

In the early August, Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, hinted that Nigeria might be forced to reciprocate the treatment handed out to Air Peace over its operations on the London route.

Keyamo stated that he had written to his British counterpart and lodged a formal complaint over the refusal of the British authorities to allow Air Peace to fly to Heathrow Airport.

The Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Air Peace is only allowed to fly to a second-tier airport, Gatwick because of the slot system, which is outside London.

According to the Minister, In a letter dated August 1, 2024, and addressed to Louise Haigh, the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Keyamo warned that if Air Peace was not allocated a space at London Heathrow, Nigeria would be forced to “reciprocate” by denying British Airways and Virgin Atlantic slots at the Lagos and Abuja airports. Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, which is a reciprocal treaty between national airlines, demands that UK accords a Nigerian flag carrier the same condition its carriers enjoy in Nigeria. Nigeria has been unfairly treated as Heathrow is the UK’s primary airport, which Air Peace, the Nigerian carrier, is currently not allowed into, but only to operate from Gatwick Airport, the secondary airport.

Findings revealed that all efforts by Air Peace to secure a slot at Heathrow, which is much closer to the heart of London, have been largely unsuccessful.

Recall that Keyamo, a couple of weeks ago, had alerted the public that the Federal Government would write to the United Kingdom to allow Nigerian carriers, particularly Air Peace, operate also in Heathrow Airport.

He made this known when he addressed reporters at the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) seminar in Lagos. He stated that the country would henceforth frown at the situation where the country’s airlines are not allowed to tier one airports overseas in line with the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), adding that failure not to allow Air Peace into Heathrow may lead to Nigeria taking British Airways and others to places like Ilorin, Kano, and other obscure places.The tension over Air Peace did not start today; recall that in May this year the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority had written Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority stating Air Peace had allegedly violated some aviation safety regulations

The development surfaced barely three months after the Nigerian carrier started the Lagos-London route. Two mandatory occurrence reports on Air Peace had been reportedly sent to the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority. The UK CAA, in turn, sent the complaints to the NCAA.

The CAA’s letter of complaint forwarded to NCAA was entitled; ‘United Kingdom SAFA Ramp I.11/03624 was titled, “United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report.

It was dated May 14, 2024, and signed by the NCAA General Manager of Operations, Capt. O.O. Lawani.

In the letter, the NCAA said the UK CAA had called its attention to the no operational approval of Electronic Flight Bag functions affecting the safe operation of the aircraft, while adding that the captain of the flight admitted that an Electronic Flight Bag was being used for navigational purposes.

NCAA further noted that the CAA stated in its letter that there was “no mounting device for the use of EFB, no charging points or battery for backup.”

Air Peace’s operation to London Gatwick from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos was based on the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, which Nigeria has with the UK.

But Air Peace was dismissive of the reports of alleged safety concerns in the United Kingdom, saying ramp inspection issues had been resolved with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Stanley Olisa, the Lead, Corporate Communications of the airline, debunked the allegation in a statement later made available to journalists.

He confirmed the UK CAA’s letter to the NCAA, but stated that the matter had since been resolved. According to him, the publication revving up the matter again was in bad taste and misleading and capable of creating scare and fears in the minds of the flying public, noting that, since Air Peace’s inaugural flight to the UK, the airline had been subjected to rigorous scrutiny by relevant authorities.

He said the UK CAA had on April 7 requested clarification on the airline’s use of the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and some other concerns, which were immediately addressed and settled.

“It is; therefore, wrong to say that the airline did not have approval for EFB. Air Peace received approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and all our Boeing 777 aircraft are certified to operate with EFBs.

“Regarding the claim that our B777 aircraft lack iPad mounts and charging ports in the flight deck, this is incorrect.

“All B777 aircraft are equipped with charging ports in the cockpit, and we ensure that all our B777 aircraft have iPad mounts,” Olisa said.

He also said an issue raised by the UK CAA was the location of the airline’s cockpit library on the B777, adding that the B777 designated two locations for storing manuals and books – one behind the captain and one under the jump-seat.

Olisa said during the inspection, the books were stored under the jump-seat, as it was commonly practiced.

“We understand the inspector’s preference for the books to be placed behind the captain and have ensured this preference is accommodated for all operations going forward.

“There was also a concern about the captain’s choice of runway exit after landing. Instead of exiting at the middle runway exit, the captain, out of his professional discretion, opted to exit at the end of the runway.

Industry experts who spoke to NATIONAL WAVES hinted that the minister’s August letter to his UK counterpart was a bold move. Their argument is that by limiting Air Peace to Gatwick, while British carriers enjoy access to Lagos and Abuja, the UK is effectively hindering the Nigerian airline’s commercial viability and competitive position. They however pointed out that a collaborative approach involving the aviation authorities of both countries, Heathrow Airport, and Air Peace is essential to resolve this issue. Aviation expert, James George said that while potential disruptions to travelers and businesses are a concern, the Minister’s actions aims to level the playing field and ensure fair competition between Nigerian and British carriers.

While Alex Nwuba says a resolution that secures Heathrow slots for Air Peace is crucial for the growth of the Nigerian aviation industry.

Recall that Vice President Shettima had promised in September when Onyeama visited him at the Presidential Villa that government would resolve it, this has not been done.

In April, Onyeama raised the alarm that foreign carriers operating the Nigeria-UK route were allegedly conspiring to send Air Peace out of international operations by crashing airfares on the route.

Onyema gave the revelation on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme. He alleged that there was an “unspoken alliance” among foreign airlines to use lower pricing to eject Air Peace from the Nigeria-London route.

“If they take out Air Peace prematurely, this country will pay dearly for it, 10 times over, billions will be lost, there will be another heavy strain on the naira,” he said.

NATIONAL WAVES recalls that Air Peace reciprocated the lopsided Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom when the local airline began direct flight operations from Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London on March 30, 2024.

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo and his counterpart at the Trade and Investment Ministry, Doris Uzoka-Anita were onboard the inaugural Lagos-London flight, alongside business men

NATIONAL WAVES had earlier reported how the price of international flight ticket on the Lagos-London route, which was as high as N3.5m for economy ticket went for N1.2m as Air Peace commenced the London route, with foreign airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qatar Airways forced to slash their prices to stay competitive.

Air Peace boss said foreign airlines operating the route “are fighting back”, adding that his airlines are being “deliberately frustrated in all ways”.

He cited ground handling and space allocation difficulties at Gatwick Airport in the last couple of days.

“It’s a very devilish conspiracy,” a Onyema said.

“All of a sudden, (foreign) airlines are underpricing, below the cost, it’s not up to one month, an airline was advertising $100, another one $305, $350.

“Fill up the entire aircraft and carry people on the wings, it’s not even enough to buy your fuel. So, why are they doing that? Their governments are supporting them because Nigeria has been a cash cow for everybody.

“Their governments are supporting them to do this and take Air Peace out. The idea is to take Air Peace out and the moment they succeed in taking Air Peace out, Nigerians will pay 20 times over again,” he said.

Onyema, therefore, invited other Nigerian airlines to join the Nigeria-UK route to break the monopoly hitherto enjoyed by foreign carriers operating into the four major gateway airports of Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

“I invite other Nigerian airlines to join the fray, let them come, let all of us do international operations. Yes, international aeropolitics is very dirty but somebody must pay the price,” he said.

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