Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines and Spokesperson of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Professor Obiora Okonkwo, OFR, has urged Nigerians to rally behind Airpeace and advocate for continued government support for indigenous airlines, including United Nigeria Airlines, poised to join Airpeace on the London route.
Speaking on Arise TV News Night program, Okonkwo, who was aboard Airpeace’s inaugural London flight, expressed joy and satisfaction, stating his long-standing predictions are coming to fruition. He emphasized the potential of indigenous operators to offer more competitive pricing, citing the high costs Nigerians have borne on foreign airlines.
Okonkwo commended Barr. Allen Onyema for Airpeace’s achievement, portraying the inaugural flight as a milestone for all Nigerians. He warned against misconstruing the sudden price drops by foreign carriers as mere competition, labeling it as a conspiracy to eliminate Airpeace from the market.
He cautioned that the drastic fare reductions by foreign operators constitute predatory pricing aimed at destabilizing Airpeace and other potential Nigerian operators. Okonkwo urged the Nigerian government to remain vigilant and support indigenous operators against the “Anti-Trust” strategy of the foreign airlines, who can afford to record huge losses just to remain in the lucrative Lagos – London market and still receive bailouts from their country and banks, a privilege not available for both Airpeace and other local operators. He denounced the antitrust tactic as economic sabotage and called for investigation and possible prosecution.
Okonkwo continued his call for policy reforms to enable indigenous operators to access capital assets, facilitating their expansion into various routes and breaking potential monopolies in the global aviation industry.
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