“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it”
― – George Bernard Shaw
By Cosmas Omegoh
The Chairman of Air Peace Airline, Dr Allen Onyema, a lawyer and entrepreneur, is receiving accolades for his recent accomplishment in the global aviation space.
Onyema, 60, is being spoken about in hallowed terms by many who know what it takes to start an airline from ground zero and grow it to the skies.
On March 30, Onyema had another feather added to his already crowded cap when Air Peace launched its historic operation into the United Kingdom, landing at Gatwick Airport, London amid pomp and ceremony to the admiration of Nigerians with patriotic adrenaline running in their veins.
Industry operators and watchers are celebrating the Onyema deed, which they reckon brings enormous pride and respect to every Nigerian of goodwill, revealing that for more than a decade, no airline birthed in Nigeria had flown into the UK.
Experts’ verdict is that the Air Peace initiative is one that has re-established Nigeria as a partner in the lopsided Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, which clearly favours the latter.
According to Wikipedia, BASA is “an agreement that provides for civil aviation certifications to be shared between two countries.
“A BASA sets out obligations and methods for co-operation between the authorities to avoid unnecessary duplication of evaluation, and to facilitate the certification of aeronautical products by the civil aviation authorities.”
For the uninitiated, BASA by extension establishes how countries’ carriers will operate, where they will land, their rights and privileges, among other things.
Since Nigeria does not have a national carrier yet, it has been holding the short end of the stick in its BASA with the UK. Nigeria had left itself in the cold wondering how the covenant it entered with the UK and many other countries works.
In those days of yore when the defunct Nigeria Airways was in operation, the country enjoyed some bragging right. After that, some other airlines had a shot at the Lagos-London air route. Arik Air operated to London Heathrow; the defunct Virgin Nigeria operated to Gatwick; Medview Airline operated to Gatwick.
But following harsh operating conditions and the alleged hostilities the airlines received, they got frozen out, and reverted to domestic carriers, thus again handing UK the dominance it has continued to crave for.
Right now, the UK has two formidable carriers operating into Nigeria: British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, each scoping tons of cash with relish. They fix fares and determine how a hapless country and its citizenry fly to London.
At some point, worried Nigerian industry players raised the alarm that the big foreign airlines had formed a cartel and made the Lagos-London route the most expensive in West African. They know that Nigerians who are active on the route had no choice, but to pay through their nose.
Over the past years, British and other countries’ carriers have been landing and taking off from Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu, mining as much cash as there is even when no Nigerian carrier is gracing their air spaces except perhaps during hajj. That is when some domestic carriers can ferry pilgrims to Mecca and Medina. And sadly, that is where it ends.
But the stormy arrival of Air Peace has seen Nigeria seemingly breaking the glass ceiling again. It currently competes on the Nigeria-South Africa, United Arab Emirate, and China routes, among others.
Now, staking a deserved claim in the juicy Lagos-London market – a big pie foreigners have continued to savour for long without let – is considered audacious.
Those knowledgeable in the industry are emphatic that the feat Onyema and his company recently pulled, though not the first, did not come as easy as kids break biscuits. It is a bye-product of hard work, networking and ingenuity.
Already, allegations are rife that Air Peace had to face daunting opposition to secure Nigeria’s slot in the BASA with the UK, which had been lying fallow for long.
The Air Peace boss admitted that he encountered unprecedented domestic opposition from fellow Nigerians not keen at having a Nigerian-flagged airliner operating into the UK. That might sound surprising, but yet expected. This is aside from other challenges which were personal to the airline.
Then the next huddle lied with the UK authorities demanding the highest safety and readiness assurance from Air Peace before they could even stir. That too was expected!
But the real challenge lied with the lords of the skies agreeing to allow a Nigerian outfit to jostle for a bit of the big pie they have been enjoying for too long. For real, no one with food in his mouth whistles.
Now, that is why the allegation that the big airlines have started to de-market Air Peace cannot be discountenanced.
On arrival, Air Peace had fixed fares that opened eyes to the reality that Nigerians are being fleeced.
For now, the monopolists have dug deeper into the trenches to wage price war never seen before on Air Peace.
Onyema alleged how they came out with ridiculously low fares such that even if an aircraft were to be filled with passengers and some more sitting on the wings, the proceeds would not be enough to buy even aviation fuel to operate a liner into London.
Nevertheless, countless numbers of patriotic Nigerians are celebrating the Air Peace initiative as one of the best to happen in recent times.
They are enamoured that Onyema and his team could pull such a feat amid frustration and opposition. Therefore, the raging price war against Air Peace is not lost on them. They are well aware that what is going on right now is an orchestration to drive Air Peace under only to later return with increases that will see Nigerians paying for their supposed foolery if they fall for the gambit.
But why will the foreign airlines fear Air Peace as a threat even when they have the whole world under their feet? Why are they ill at ease that Nigerians are happy to identify with something they can call theirs? Why are they unhappy that Nigerians have fully booked for their tickets on Air Peace from, now up till September 2024?
Some individuals who were on that inaugural Air Peace round trip flight to London have explained some of the expected teething problems they encountered.
But nothing was taken away from the good feeling they experienced: how the all-Nigerian crew spoke to them in pidgin English, served real local delicacies and gave quality services straight from the heart.
Concerned Nigerians elated by the March 30 spectacle have continued to implore the Federal Government never to succumb to the blackmail of foreigners and the temptation not to support Air Peace all the way.
Analysts say Air Peace’s entry into the Lagos-London market aside from the joy it offers Nigerians, will help to further create jobs, shore up foreign exchange earnings, and reposition Nigeria as a true partner in the Nigeria-British covenant.
Allen Onyema keeps showing himself a hardcore patriot who answers the call when patriotism beckons.
Over the past years, Onyema has been there for Nigeria and Nigerians, doing so with so much zeal and zest. Recall how he came to the rescue when Nigerians were stranded in South Africa and Sudan by deploying liners to ferry Nigerians home at no cost to them.
Indeed, appreciative Nigerians can attest that Onyema is always there to fill the void even without counting the cost.
And for his unquenchable patriotic zeal, the Air Peace man has shot into the league of the finest Nigerians flaunting good testimonials. Allen, Nigerians are excited and say a big welcome. Onyema Nnoo!
