Nigeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace Limited, has announced its plan to introduce special fares for Nigerian students studying in the United Kingdom. The announcement was made by the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, during an engagement session with travel agents in Lagos. The airline is set to commence its Lagos-London flights starting March 30, 2024.
Dr Onyema unveiled this special package for students and urged travel agents to ensure responsible use of the offer. The student fares are designed to make it affordable and convenient for students to travel between Nigeria and the UK during holidays and academic breaks.
Expressing his motivation behind the student fare initiative, Dr Onyema emphasized the importance of keeping families connected, especially with students studying abroad. He shared his own experience of ensuring his children returned home during school breaks to stay connected with Nigerian values and culture.
“Several parents have been disconnected from their children. Many students have not been home for over two years because their parents cannot afford return fares to London. Parents will no longer suffer to raise money for fares for their children because the student fares will be affordable for all parents.
“My children all schooled abroad and we insisted that they return to Nigeria during their school breaks no matter how short the duration of the holidays. This is to enable us remain connected to our children and ensure they stick to our values and culture. I know this is also the desire of several other parents but this desire has been cut short because of high fares travelling to and from Nigeria, But this narrative will change as soon as Air Peace commences flights to London,” Onyema said
The chairman assured that Air Peace’s London route is driven by a commitment to providing Nigerians with the best options in terms of fares. The airline plans to offer competitive and affordable rates, bringing a positive change to the high-cost trend of travel between Nigeria and London.
Travel agents welcomed the announcement, expressing their enthusiasm for the competitive fares and commission offers from Air Peace. Currently, the cheapest economy class return ticket from Nigeria to London costs approximately N1.6 million, and the fares have seen a significant increase over the past two years.
Air Peace’s London flight is expected to bring balance to air travel between Nigeria and London, offering a daily slot to Gatwick and providing an alternative to foreign carriers. The airline aims to overcome challenges faced by passengers, such as the fluctuating Naira, by offering fares in the local currency.
The Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Oluwatoyin Olajide, highlighted the significance of the London route for Nigeria, marking the airline’s entry into the European market. The service will operate daily, featuring direct flights without stopovers, unbeatable fares, and the use of modern and efficient Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The Chairman of Airlines and Passengers’ Joint Committee (APJC) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Bankole Bernard told newsmen at the event that Air Peace’s London flight is a welcome idea, especially as Nigeria would now have its own carrier creating balance of trade which is not tilted to one side.
“There will be a bit of balance. Air Peace has been given a daily slot to Gatwick which amounts to seven frequencies, compared to 21 frequencies that the legacy airlines have; 14 in Lagos and seven in Abuja. To an extend, we have something that will balance it up.
“Air Peace is not going to be faced with challenges of foreign exchange because the fares will be in naira. It is a welcome idea for travel agents and Nigeria as a whole. We appeal to Air Peace to try its best to sustain the London route. We are willing to give them all the support to ensure this is successful. With Air Peace, travel agents envisage a 50 percent fare reduction in fares,” Bernard said.
The Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace, Oluwatoyin Olajide during her speech at the event said the London route means a lot to Nigeria because its indigenous airline will be operating to London with affordable fares and good service. She said it is also good for Air Peace for several reasons, major one being that it marks the airline’s historic entry into the European market.
Olajide said the service will be operated with the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, one of the most modern and efficient aircraft in the skies.
She also said the airline will be launching with special promo fares and attractive plans for agents.
“We shall be operating daily and this service will also offer several other benefits which will give Air Peace an edge over the competition. It is a direct flight without stop-overs and offers unbeatable fares. We want you to know that Air Peace’s operational expansion and milestones are driven by our ambition to continually connect cities and ease the burden of air travel while fostering economic prosperity across nations,” she added.
The launch of Air Peace’s Lagos-London route is expected to bring positive changes to the travel landscape, providing affordable options for students and passengers alike.
