The Chairman of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema has disclosed that the Single African Air Transport Market, SAATM, will unlock the economic potential of Africa if properly implemented .

Speaking during the 48th Annual General Meeting, AGM of the the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies, NANTA, at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos, on Thursday, April 25, on the topic, collaborative strategies for aviation stakeholders and professionals within SAATM Policy and Economic Framework, Onyema stated that Africa will benefit from SAATM if it avoids lopsided implementation.

According to him, there must be a level playing field for all the operators in Africa, adding that where it is skewed against Nigerian airlines to benefit of other African airlines is not acceptable.

He said Air Peace wants SAATM, but a situation where the airline is given a bill of $12000 as landing charges by some Francophone countries but such airlines will fly into multiple destination in Nigeria from Lagos to Abuja and pay little as landing charges is not acceptable

How do you want such an airline with the exorbitant charges to survive, Onyema queried.

Onyema said: “We want SAATM , but when it is lopsided to the benefit of other African airlines against Nigeria Airlines is totally unacceptable . The Francophone countries use France’s ASECNA to extort Air Peace by sending millions of Euros as overflight charges to Air Peace thereby taken undue advantage of thevNigeria Airline. ”

Speaking further on the AGM with the theme : “Unlocking Africa’s Economic Potential: Travel and Tourism as catalyst for intra Africa Business Investment and Trade”, Onyema noted that the implementation of SAATM has always been the problem.
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Onyema lauded the Rwandan government for removing visa restrictions for all African countries, stressing that visa restrictions should be removed for all Africans.

He said the situation of Nigeria airline is tough where they have to borrow money at 35 percent interest rate while others borrow at 3percent from Afro Exim Bank, China Exim Bank and other sources and still meant to pay exorbitant ground handling charges is the problem .

Air Peace boss called for the removal of some certain charges that make it exorbitant for common man or woman to fly.

Government must remove some of the charges for Nigeria airlines to be able to compete in SAATM.

Onyema stressed the need for government intervention, saying the compulsory 5 percent charges by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is killing the airlines .

We must protect our naira, we must protect our country, every country protects its own, Onyema said.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo for supporting domestic airlines.

On question wether he wants Air Peace to be named as the country’s national carrier, Onyema said no, because according to him national carrier is a moribund idea which depletes resources.

Air Peace boss said what he wants is a level playing field for Air Peace, that the airline designation as a Nigerian flag carrier is okay for the airline.

While thanking NANTA for their love and support for Air Peace, Onyema said he’s not taking the association’s love and support for granted.