…Air Peace skyrockets for the first time in 10 years – Keyamo
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said President Bola Tinubu’s administration will end the high airline mortality rate that has characterized Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Keyamo was speaking at the 10th anniversary celebrations of West Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace, in Lagos over the weekend.
Addressing dignitaries from various sectors who attended the event, the minister said Nigeria has a history of high airline mortality rates, noting that more than 100 airlines have gone bankrupt in the past 40 years. He said studies have shown that air travel in Nigeria has great potential and with the right policies and actions, Nigeria will have the most successful airline in Africa. .
According to him, the Tinubu administration will tackle the issue head on and bring about an end by reviving what has been neglected for the past 40 years.
“This situation is alarming. Let me tell you why it is worrying. A recent study by Boeing shows that 80% of all domestic trips in Africa are from Nigeria. Even in West Africa. Not even Central Africa, but all of Africa.
“I think the busiest route in all of Africa is the Lagos-Abuja route, so all of Africa, followed by Johannesburg-Cape Town. But for domestic travel, Nigeria is number one.
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“We have population, we have traffic, we have people. So with all this traffic, with all this domestic traffic, why can’t airlines survive? It’s amazing. Ask yourself, why aren’t they surviving? And since I came to the office, I’ve been talking to operators and listening to them to solve this problem. ” he said.
Keyamo, however, said it was heartening that the Nigerian airline Air Peace had resisted this deadly phenomenon in its 10 years of operation, but everything was looking up for Air Peace. He said that it shows the following: It will be a great airline of the future.
“And here we are with Air Peace. After 10 years, it still looks strong and healthy, and in fact is increasing rather than declining. Like several local airlines in recent months. I also remember approving many international flights for Air Peace.
“As I speak to you, Air Peace is a proud ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As a government, we are proud to support our local airline.
“We are proud to support Air Peace, especially as they fly our flag high around the world. Peace in the skies is now threatening the world. We have cooperation with some of the companies. It’s from local entrepreneurs.
As a Cabinet member, I am proud to be involved with local airlines rather than foreign airlines. Because we have a duty to promote our airlines and we have to support our airlines,” he said.
Keyamo said Nigeria would have a number of airlines operating domestic, sub-regional, continental and international flights in the coming years.
“We are going to get them. Yesterday (Thursday) we received a beautiful letter inviting us all to Ireland in January. We have not received such kind of letters in Nigeria for a long time And guess what?
“Thanks to what we have done in recent months since taking office, we are confident that the greatest and most influential gathering of financiers, aircraft financiers and lenders in the world will be attending a meeting in Ireland in January. He invited us all.
“The letter said to come with everyone. They want to start this discussion at the highest level with the airlines, aircraft leasing and financing operators in Nigeria. We are on the right path and it is all because of people like Allen Onyema,” Keyamo said.
