Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, has disclosed that repairs on one of its aircraft damaged during ground handling by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company will cost the airline more than $1m, compounding a series of operational challenges confronting local carriers.
The airline’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, made this known during an interview on Arise TV on Sunday, where he highlighted frequent bird strikes, heavy taxation, and what he described as persistent and unfair criticism from government agencies as major obstacles facing Nigerian airlines.
Last Friday, The PUNCH reported that an Air Peace aircraft was damaged by a conveyor belt truck driver during ground handling, forcing the airline to ground the aircraft. Speaking on the programme, Onyema said the damaged plane was a brand-new aircraft purchased for over $85m.
“One of our brand-new planes, bought for over $85m, was damaged by a ground handler. The thrust reverser of that engine is gone as I speak to you,” he said.
According to him, the cost of repairs would exceed $1m, noting that in some cases the losses could be significantly higher. “The damage will cost us over $1m to fix. In some cases, losses run much higher. The engine alone costs about $18m,” Onyema added.
He also recounted a prolonged Aircraft on Ground situation involving one of the airline’s Boeing 777s, which remained grounded for three years due to the unavailability of an engine.
“After three years, we finally got a new engine. But when the engine arrived, the ground handler pierced through the centre of it. This is sabotage,” he said.
Beyond ground handling challenges, Onyema disclosed that Air Peace recorded 49 bird-strike incidents across Nigeria between January and September, stressing that even a single strike can ground an aircraft for weeks.
“Air Peace has had 49 bird strikes in Nigeria from January to September. One bird strike could cripple your aircraft for the next month. At that moment, there are no two ways about it. These bird strikes often lead to costly delays and serious disruptions in flight schedules,” he said.
Onyema also pushed back against allegations by government institutions, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which has been probing airfare increases and describing them as exploitative.
“We in the Airline Operators of Nigeria have come out to say that enough is enough. The bashing of Nigerian airlines doesn’t stop. It’s very painful when it’s coming from government agencies that should know better,” he stated.
Dismissing claims of coordinated price-fixing, Onyema explained that airline ticket prices vary depending on booking time, demand, and seasonality.
“It is untrue that every fare is N500,000 or N400,000. You can still find tickets for N150,000. On the same flight, someone may have paid N125,000, while another paid N350,000. That’s how airline inventory works,” he said.
He added that domestic air travel in Nigeria remains relatively cheap by global standards. “We still have tickets for as low as N115,000, which is less than $60. Nigerians are flying some of the cheapest domestic fares in the world,” Onyema noted.
On taxation, the Air Peace boss lamented what he described as excessive and multiple levies imposed on airlines, which significantly reduce their earnings.
“When you take a ticket of N350,000, only about N81,000 comes to the airline. The rest goes to taxes and charges. This level of multiple taxation is unsustainable,” he said.
Calling for urgent reforms, Onyema urged the government to review its policies and allow capable airlines to handle their own ground operations to improve safety and efficiency.
“If the legislation allows it, airlines that can afford it should be allowed to do their own ground handling. It will improve safety and operational efficiency,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Onyema said Air Peace remains committed to offering affordable and dependable air travel, adding, “As much as we try to provide quality service, the system is working against us.”
