Air Peace launches student special fares with inaugural Lagos-London flight on March 30
In a bid to establish closer ties between Nigerian students studying in the UK and their families back home, Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading carrier, has announced special fares for students as it prepares to launch its Lagos-London flight starting March 30, 2024.
Speaking at an engagement session with travel agents in Lagos on Thursday, Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, revealed the airline’s commitment to offering affordable fares to students.
He emphasised the importance of maintaining familial connections and cultural ties by facilitating easier travel between Nigeria and the UK.
Highlighting the motive behind the special package for students, Onyema urged the agents to ensure the offer was not abused by passengers.
Onyema stated: “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 to 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.”
Highlighting the airline’s dedication to Nigeria and its people, Onyema stressed the need to provide alternatives to high fares and ensure accessibility for all. He underscored the significance of students returning home during breaks to remain connected to Nigerian values and culture.
The Air Peace London route aims to address the escalating fares from Nigeria to London, which have risen by over 400 percent in recent years (as flight ticket for economy class currently sells between N1.6 million and N1.8 million, depending on the airline and time of booking), due to various factors, including currency depreciation and airline fund limitations.
Onyema assured travelers of competitive and affordable fares on the new route.
Mr. Bankole Bernard, Chairman of the Airlines and Passengers’ Joint Committee (APJC) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), hailed Air Peace’s initiative, citing it as a step towards balancing trade relations and enhancing Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“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 extent, we have something that will balance it up.
“Air Peace is not going to be faced with challenges of foreign exchange challenges 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 remarked.
Echoing Bernard’s sentiments, Oluwatoyin Olajide, Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, emphasised the significance of the London route for Nigeria and the airline.
She highlighted the use of modern aircraft, including Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, to ensure quality service and efficiency, adding that the airline will be launching with special promo fares and attractive plans for agents.
Olajide affirmed: “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.”
With the promise of daily operations and special promotional fares, Air Peace aims to revolutionise travel between Nigeria and the UK, offering convenience, affordability, and top-notch service to passengers and travel agents alike.
