The chairman of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema has disclosed that the airline has ordered six Embraer aircraft to expand its operations.
This was disclosed by Onyema on Wednesday, July 13 during the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, ASRIT in Lagos at the GolfView Hotel and Suites, Ikeja GRA.
The chairman of Air Peace said the six Embraer, including the anticipated Boeing 777 will will take the aircraft fleet size to 22.
He stated that the aviation profit in Nigeria is marginal, adding that Legacy carriers in other parts of the world make between 3-5 percent profit while in Nigeria where the operating environment is challenging, to break even is even difficult.
Onyema applauded the federal government for instituting the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, pointing out that since the introduction of the policy, a lot has really changed.
According to him, “we just bought six Embraer jets and the Embraer team that visited us did not find it difficult in getting their visas as they went online and applied and were given visa without long process. I quite commend the federal government on this development”.
Onyema advised the government to address the issue of double taxation which is killing the industry.
He said the aviation industry in Nigeria is plagued with about 37 taxes which if nothing is done will kill the industry.
Onyema stated that: “With all these taxes, if nothing is done, all the airlines will close shops in no distant time, we need to ask questions why most of our airlines are failing and do something to salvage the situation”.
Air Peace chairman said apart from about 37 charges, the airline has to battle with high insurance premium which is among the highest in the world because Nigeria is categorised among the high risk country with high insurance premium.
