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Chairman, Air Peace, Dr Allen
Onyema, has urged Nigerians to support local businesses and investments to
boost the country’s economy.
A statement issued by the
airline’s Corporate Communications Lead, Mr Stanley Olisa, yesterday in Lagos,
quoted Onyema to have spoken at the Silverbird Man of the Year Awards.
Onyema also urged Nigerians to
embrace peace even in the face of the current economic situation.
He said Nigerians have to
‘support their own’ to thrive instead of engaging in activities that frustrate
such businesses.
He said that patronising and
supporting local businesses would help to accelerate the economic development
of the country.
Onyema called on Nigerians to
inculcate the spirit of broad nationalism and ward off sentiments of ethnic and
religious nationalism.
He stated that if Nigerians
continue to support foreign businesses at the expense of indigenous brands, the
economy will continue to suffer a great blow.
He cited how Air Peace
recently introduced low fares for its London service, saying it is a
nationalistic initiative to ease the burden of air travel for Nigerians on the
UK route.
Onyema also noted how the move
made the foreign competition on the same route to reduce their fares,
emphasising that supporting Nigerian businesses is an act of patriotism and it
should become common practice for all.
Onyema, who acknowledged the
economic doldrums that Nigeria is currently battling with, implored Nigerians
to support the Tinubu government and give him some time to stabilise the
economy.
In the same vein, the airline
gifted six Nigerians return tickets to London at the award ceremony.
The six Nigerians emerged
winners of a raffle draw that was sponsored by the airline.
Onyema, who congratulated the
winners, said they would join the airline’s inaugural flight to London on March
30, adding that the airline would also process their visas for them.
The News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) reports that Air Peace is gearing up for its inaugural London flight on
March 30, and has announced incredibly low fares of N1.2 million for a return
economy ticket and N4 million for a return business ticket, with a further 15
per cent discount for Nigerians studying in the UK.
Onyema said the 15 per cent
discount for the students was borne out of the desire to reduce the financial
burden on Nigerians, especially parents who have to pay high fares for their children to come back home
during school breaks.
The initiative is also to
enable indigent students especially the ones on scholarship in the UK afford flight
tickets back to Nigeria.
NAN reports that Air Peace is
making a maiden entry to the Lagos to London route on March 30, after the exit
of Arik Air, Belview and others.
Its competitive price of N1.2
million fare for the economy class return trip amounts to 60 per cent
difference, currently serviced by Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and Ethiopia
Airlines among others.
Currently, a British Airways
economy class return ticket from Lagos to London costs 269 dollars.
Going by the IATA rate of
N1,778 per dollar, it will amount to about N4.7 million, while Virgin Atlantic
is about N3.2 million for its economy class.
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