Foreign carriers jittery as Air Peace orders new generation planes

THERE is no doubt that Nigeria’s domestic airline has in the last weeks upped the ante of domestic airline business with many foreign airlines becoming jittery.

According to information gathered last weekend, the latest order for ten new generation Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft at a go by the Nigerian carrier has since thrown confusion into the camp of the mega carriers who are said to be surprised at the business strategies of the carrier in view of the unimpressive performance of many Nigerian passengers.

The latest confusion has been traced to the preparedness of the airline to extend operations to  international routes having been designated on six foreign routes.

Presently the Nigerian carrier which is operating into regional routes including Accra, has been designated to fly into Dubai, London, Guangzhou-China, Houston, Mumbai and South Africa.

Many of the foreign carriers are said to be worried with the strength of the airline which they saw as a strong competitor in view of the new generation aircraft being paraded by the Nigerian carrier which can match the aircraft in the fleet of the foreign carriers.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the airline, Mr Allen Onyema has appealed to the federal government  to  back up the domestic airlines designated on the foreign scenes.

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Onyema called on the government to go the extra length to leverage the ongoing  international  aero politics to help soften the ground for the designated domestic carriers, which he said  have shown that they could  match legacy carriers with same service if given a level playing field.

He cited how many foreign carriers including African carriers who have been given red carpet  treatment here in Nigeria ended up sabotaging Nigerian carriers designated to operate to their home countries sunning aero politics.

The Air Peace Chief who used the occasion to declare the intention of the airline to commence flights into Dubai by the end of November, promised to unveil competitive fares on the route and other international routes that are allocated to it.

In an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Onyema used the opportunity to explain why the  airline was yet to commence flights into the international routes which he attributed delay  in getting the final regulatory approval from aviation authorities of the foreign countries which he said was out of his power.

THERE is no doubt that Nigeria’s domestic airline has in the last weeks upped the ante of domestic airline business with many foreign airlines becoming jittery.

According to information gathered last weekend, the latest order for ten new generation Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft at a go by the Nigerian carrier has since thrown confusion into the camp of the mega carriers who are said to be surprised at the business strategies of the carrier in view of the unimpressive performance of many Nigerian passengers.

The latest confusion has been traced to the preparedness of the airline to extend operations to  international routes having been designated on six foreign routes.

Presently the Nigerian carrier which is operating into regional routes including Accra, has been designated to fly into Dubai, London, Guangzhou-China, Houston, Mumbai and South Africa.

Many of the foreign carriers are said to be worried with the strength of the airline which they saw as a strong competitor in view of the new generation aircraft being paraded by the Nigerian carrier which can match the aircraft in the fleet of the foreign carriers.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the airline, Mr Allen Onyema has appealed to the federal government  to  back up the domestic airlines designated on the foreign scenes.

Onyema called on the government to go the extra length to leverage the ongoing  international  aero politics to help soften the ground for the designated domestic carriers, which he said  have shown that they could  match legacy carriers with same service if given a level playing field.

He cited how many foreign carriers including African carriers who have been given red carpet  treatment here in Nigeria ended up sabotaging Nigerian carriers designated to operate to their home countries sunning aero politics.

The Air Peace Chief who used the occasion to declare the intention of the airline to commence flights into Dubai by the end of November, promised to unveil competitive fares on the route and other international routes that are allocated to it.

In an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Onyema used the opportunity to explain why the  airline was yet to commence flights into the international routes which he attributed delay  in getting the final regulatory approval from aviation authorities of the foreign countries which he said was out of his power.