Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema, has praised President Bola Tinubu for his immense support for indigenous airlines, saying the federal government’s intervention made possible the airline’s historic Abuja–London Heathrow flight and helped reduce international airfares from $13,000 to $3,000.
Speaking on ARISE News on Wednesday, Onyema described the launch of the Abuja–London route as “a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s aviation industry and a triumph of public-private partnership.”
He said President Tinubu’s policies created an enabling environment for local airlines to compete globally, adding that “no country develops without the private sector because it embodies and implements the government’s vision.”
According to him, Air Peace’s competitive pricing has forced foreign carriers to slash their own fares.
“Even Britons on our flight were happy because competition has arrived. Air Peace cannot fly everybody, but now Nigerians have a choice,” he said.
Expanding Nigeria’s Air Connectivity
Onyema revealed that the airline now operates 14 weekly flights between Nigeria and the United Kingdom — connecting Lagos to London Gatwick and Abuja to Heathrow — the first Nigerian carrier to achieve such dual-route operation.
He explained that the service opens the corridor to Europe and beyond, allowing passengers to connect to America, Canada, and Asia at lower costs.
The Air Peace boss said the airline offers unmatched connectivity within Nigeria.
“If you’re flying into Abuja from Heathrow, you land by 6 a.m., and by 8 a.m., our flights leave for Enugu, Kano, Yola, and other cities. You can buy one ticket, and we’ll handle your luggage through to your final destination,” he explained.
Onyema commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, france-in-ndjamena-airport-chad/">Festus Keyamo, for implementing Tinubu’s aviation vision, noting that Nigeria’s ratification of the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction has ended the country’s 15-year blacklisting by major aircraft leasing companies.
“For the first time, airlines in Nigeria now have access to dry lease options,” he said. “The entire world gathered in Dublin to celebrate Nigeria’s progress. This administration has achieved what others could not.”
He added that the President’s quick removal of the 4% FOB levy on imported aircraft parts further boosted investor confidence.
On Air Peace’s Future and Public Listing
Onyema said Air Peace would not go public until it has a “fully solid foundation.” He explained: “Many people tell me to go public and cash out, but I won’t. Legacy matters more than profit. We’ll go public only when it benefits Nigeria and our workers.”
He disclosed that foreign investors have approached him to buy into Air Peace but said he rejected those offers. “Selling out would take jobs and revenue out of Nigeria. Air Peace must remain a Nigerian success story,” he stated.
Onyema said aviation costs remain globally dollarised, but local refining by the Dangote Refinery is already reducing fuel prices. “Fuel used to account for 70% of our costs; now it’s coming down. Everything in aviation is dollarised, yet our tickets cost less than $100,” he said.
He also urged the government to complete ongoing airport transit facilities to attract international traffic. “Nigeria is geographically well-placed in the centre of the world. If we fix our hubs, we’ll dominate African aviation,” he added.
Concluding, Onyema reaffirmed his dedication to Nigeria’s progress. “Air Peace is not about Allen Onyema—it’s about Nigeria. Every time we fly the flag in London, it shows what our nation can achieve when government and the private sector work together.”
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