Air Peace has refuted allegations of exploitative airfares leveled against it by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The airline has written to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment as well as President Bola Tinubu to provide clarity on the ongoing reports.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Air Peace, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, expressed concern that many people might not fully understand the implications of the allegations, which have negatively impacted the airline’s reputation internationally.
Olajide commended President Tinubu for his support of Nigerian airlines and emphasized that if there were concerns requiring clarification, the appropriate approach for the FCCPC would have been to consult the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for detailed explanations.
She stated: “We deeply appreciate the support of President Bola Tinubu for Nigerian airlines, and that is why we want to clarify this. The FCCPC had sent a letter of inquiry to us, and we were invited to Abuja.
“We honored the request, and in fact, Dr. Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace, personally went to Abuja to hear what they had to say about this inquiry. Let me emphasize that aviation is a highly regulated industry, and we are fully aware that this industry is governed by the NCAA.
“So, if there are any concerns or inquiries about an airline, the proper channel would have been for such an agency to approach the NCAA for clarification. The NCAA would then provide the necessary details.
“If they were not satisfied with the explanation, they could have written to us directly. However, when the news broke the next day, it was no longer presented as an inquiry but as though the Federal Government was investigating Air Peace. Many people may not realize the damage such a headline can cause.”
Olajide also highlighted the challenges faced by Nigerian airlines, including high-interest rates on loans, the rising cost of Jet A1 fuel, insurance, maintenance, taxes, and other levies.