“Air Peace manipulating system for selfish purpose.” – Ugwoegbu.
4 min read
Editor’s note: On Monday, November 4 2024, a high profile Akalite and an A-List aviation business expert granted an interview to the New National Star newspaper where he accused the boss of Air Peace, Allen Onyema of selfishly increasing the air tickets. Below is the news report from New National Star newspaper.
An airline expert and Consultant Chief Okey Ugwoegbu, has described as unfortunate the denial of Nigeria’s largest private airline, Air Peace, that it did not increase her fare.
Recall that last week Air Peace was in the news for alleged fare hike of 100% on all local routes with effect from November
1, but the company swiftly countered it, insisting it did not originate from them.
In its statement, Air Peace said, “We would like to categorically state that this information is false and did not originate from Air Peace.
We have not released any official statement regarding a fare increase as described, and any announcements regarding our pricing would only be made through our verified channels. We encourage our valued customers and clients to rely exclusively on our above platforms for accurate updates and information on fares.”
But in an exclusive interview with New National Star, Chief Ugwoegbu, an airline guru with over 30 years’ experience in airline business berated Air Peace for denying what he insisted was true, as he has already bought his ticket to travel to the eastern part of the country for Christmas at N300,000, a one way economy class.
He said that the disclaimer Air Peace made “is a lie because I have bought my own N300,000 ticket to Owerri already. I paid
N900,000 for three people. It’s no rumor, I have bought mine.
Air Peace blocks the inventory – allowing only the most expensive tickets in the system on their platform – the same thing the foreign airlines were doing and he was criticizing is what he is doing.”
He opined that the Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, is playing the ostrich as the exploitative ploys he accused the foreign airlines of inflicting on Nigerians is exactly what he has applied. “Air Peace fare hike has nothing to do with the economy. You see what I don’t like is, people use one little opportunity to do what they like, and there is no regulation; you don’t just wake up just go ahead and increase airline ticket; it’s not done anywhere in the world. And I have to be honest with you, I don’t even know what the Aviation Minister is doing? Even though I have through the media always seen them together, maybe I don’t know whether he is trying to be sentimental about it.
“The price hike, particularly Air Peace, I don’t know why Air Peace has chosen to be doing all these things, and the same Air
Peace, the same man continues lamenting in the media what foreign airlines are doing in Nigeria, saying they don’t allow him to fly- this is all to attract sympathy – they are all games to maintain monopoly, you don’t play the ostrich, that is what is happening,” Ugwoegbu stated.
He queried the basis of the price hike particularly during the Christmas when the Igbos travel to their villages to celebrate the season with their loved ones. He said rather than Air Peace increase fares at this time they should have given bonuses to their brothers and sisters who have always supported them by making it their preferred flight.
“Why is he always particular about the east? Me, I’m very very upset. Everytime we want to go for Christmas, this is the time to rather say thank you to his eastern brothers, his southern brothers, for all their patronage over the years, because if you bring air Peace and another airline, an easterner will fly air Peace -that is why they say Igbos are tribalistic but it’s not like that.”
He further condemned Air Peace for their unsatisfactory services at some of their
offices.
“Their services is at time unsatisfactory based on passenger handling especially
in one of the airports in south east.”
Chief Ugwoegbu, piqued by the silence of the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, over the unnecessary price hike also cautioned over his statement about suspending British Airways.
He said: “I don’t know what the minister is doing about all this increases here and there.
The minister also should trade with caution about British Airways so that we won’t be on our knees again as the present case of Emirates airline where we are today. They have dictated how they want to operate in
Nigeria and we accepted it. Now they sell their ticket in dollars against the global rule.”
To break the Air Peace jinx, Ugwoegbu urged other airlines to position their flights to the south, particularly the south east this yuletide with competitive prices.
He said that many families cannot afford to travel by air this Christmas due to the price hike.
He lamented the bad state of Nigerians roads and insecurity that have made the road option inaccessible.
Nigeria’s airlines have increased their fares across all local routes less than 60 days to the yuletide when people and families crisscross states to visit, celebrate and bond with loved ones in the spirit of the season.
Air transportation has remained the fastest, safest and preferred means of transport by anyone who can afford the fare, in order to beat human and vehicular traffic, kidnapping, armed robbery and incessant road and sea accidents.
Hence, the 100% fare hike embarked upon by Nigerian airlines would force most Nigerians to take decisions against their wish, budget and comfort. Many who ordinarily would travel by Air may not afford to do so.
Culled fromwww.newnationalstar.com
