Air Peace CEO narrates how it took seven years to get designation for Lagos-London flights

• We are working on Abuja-London, Houston, New York routes — Air Peace CEO

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of  Air Peace Airlines, Allen Onyema, recently narrated the laborious process it took the airline to obtain designation to operate in London.

Onyema revealed this during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme, monitored by Gentechnews, adding that despite facing numerous challenges, including internal and external conspiracies, Air Peace Airlines persevered for seven years to secure the necessary designation to fly into London.

He bemoaned that, despite obtaining the designation six and a half years ago, the airline encountered hurdles that prevented it from commencing operations into the UK.

The CEO Air Peace also explained the complexities of international aero politics, describing the process of obtaining a Technical Country Operator (TCO) permit as fraught with difficulties.

He recalled how Air Peace’s application for the TCO permit was initially denied by Nigerian authorities, causing setbacks in the approval process.

In his words: “You suffer what I call both internal and external conspiracies. It took us seven years. We got the designation, I think, about six and a half years ago, to go into London. Since then, it has been a cat-and-mouse game.

“We actually procured our three 777s because of this route, not for any other route, … However, we were not allowed to go.

“Whether you like it or not, there is what is called international aero politics which is very dirty. We applied for the TCO.

“TCO means Technical Country Operators Permit; you must get that one before you start going into any European country, UK inclusive.

“And the TCO organisation from Europe wrote to our Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority: Do you know Air Peace? Do you know about their designation? And we were denied. My own country denied us, so they threw it back.

“We went back to the NCAA; they said, oh, we didn’t tell them. Who designated us, the Federal Ministry of Aviation, whose duty it was and still is to do that. We said okay, we’re ready. They refused, they said until they allow us to apply.

“So, we got designation from the federal government, and the NCAA, under the same federal government, was telling us that we should not make any application towards going into the UK.”

He posited that despite facing setbacks from both the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Ministry of Aviation, it is important that indigenous airlines should be receiving support from the Federal Government.

Consequently, he canvassed for a conducive business environment and greater support for local airlines to thrive and overcome challenges.

“In our own country, what we are pleading – I like when you said support – the ease of doing business, let them even do that for the indigenous airlines and see us blossom, instead of badmouthing these airlines that pass through all manner of problems,” he stated.

Onyema also revealed that Air Peace is prepared to take on more flights, adding that seven flights were going into Gatwick Airport from Nigeria daily.

“We are doing seven daily flights into Gatwick. Nigeria has a balance of about fourteen to do. We are ready, if the government gives us Abuja-London, I will do it, because we are expecting more aircraft into the country purchased by Air Peace. If we get it, we will do it.

“Like, we are planning to hit New York or Houston towards the end of the year, because we are bringing in more 777s. As I speak to you, my staff, they’re in California, the engineering technical services department;

“…they’re in California inspecting some three 777s we want to acquire; we want to buy. So, if we could get them in the next two or three months, then of course, we are good to go anywhere,” CEO Air Peace added.