As part of efforts to assist the federal government in reaching out to
the Nigeria Armed Forces, start-up carrier, Air Peace, is offering
N10, 000 air fare to each retired and serving military personnel on
all flights in the country, including business class.
Chairman of the airline Mr. Allen Onyema said this was part of his
contributions to support the military in carrying out its statutory
responsibility. He noted that the policy is in line with the practice in
the United States, where the military is given such assistance to
encourage them for what they have done and are doing for the
country.
The military he said, has played a huge role in keeping the nation
together since the civil war years till date.
He said it is only important to reward the efforts of the military
through this gesture.
Onyema said the military over the years has made huge sacrifice to
maintain peace and order in the country, which could only be
appreciated with the lower fare offer.
He disclosed this week at the unveiling of Air Peace at the departure
hall of the domestic wing of the Lagos Airport (GAT).
The Air Peace boss said the airline is committed to supporting the
Armed Forces and other institutions that are committed to the
harmonious coexistence of the country.
According to him, no business could grow if the country is not
enjoying an atmosphere of peace and stability, hence the need to
support the military and other institutions in carrying out their
statutory responsibility.
Onyema said his major objective in establishing the carrier is to
create jobs, although he knew that airline business has very small
margin of profit.
“We want to change the way thing are done in the air transport
industry in Nigeria. We want to put an end to animosities among the
airlines and to make domestic carriers to work together for the
benefit of Nigerians. Such unhealthy competition among the airlines
should belong to the past. The market is large enough for everyone
if we can only work together,” Onyema said.
He observed that air transport has not been made appealing to
Nigerians because of its high fares and the fact that airlines have
failed to collaborate to make air transport attractive and affordable
to the citizens.
Onyema said it is really embarrassing that less than two per cent of
the nation’s 170 million people travel by air, adding that if fares are
made affordable and there is cooperation among airlines, more
Nigerians would travel and the existing airlines would not even meet
the demand if about three per cent of the citizens travel by air.
“There is enough room for everybody so we need to cooperate to
make air travel better in Nigeria; although many Nigerians are afraid
to travel because of the sad issues of air crashes in the past. But air
travel is safer today because the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
(NCAA) has improved safety through strict enforcement of
regulations,” he said.
The Chairman of Air Peace said the airline has set the pace for
cooperation, remarking that it is only in Nigeria that airlines do not
code-share, adding that Air Peace wished to partner with other
Nigerian airlines.
He commended other airlines in the country, including Aero, Azman
Airline, Discovery Air, Dana Air, Overland Airways, First Nation,
Medview Airline and Arik Air, remarking that Arik has changed the
face of air transport industry in Nigeria.
Onyema said Air Peace has introduced wifi for passengesr and
Peace Miles to encourage the airlines customers so that when the
passenger accumulates a certain number of miles he can be
upgraded to business class.
He said that the airline has seven aircraft in its fleet and a highly
motivated staff, adding that the airline is already sustaining over
250 jobs and is employing more Nigerians.

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