Victor EzejaLeading airline in Sub-Saharan Africa, Air Peace, has revealed that it has secure Foreign Carrier Operator Permit (FCOP), which enables airlines from other regions to fly to Europe and Third Country Operator Permit (TCO-UK) that gives airlines operational access to UK.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Air Peace chairman and CEO, Dr Allen Onyema, who said that the airline had to pass through rigorous audits to meet the requirements for high safety status, capacity, and standard conditions before obtaining these permits.
As a result, the airline is now authorized to operate flights to the United Kingdom.
“We obtained these permits that qualify us to fly to UK. Before you obtain these approvals, they will audit you very well. You have to go through stringent audit, which we passed. We obtained the permit last week,” Onyema stated.
The Air Peace chairman, highlighted recent developments in the Nigeria’s aviation industry, especially with regards to procurement of brand new aircraft by airlines direct from manufacturers to boost their fleet operations, adding that as it is now, the operators can no longer be accused of lacking capacity.
Onyema reiterated that Air Peace made firm order of 33 aircraft and purchase right of 17 aircraft, which brings the airline’s total order to 50.
These include 15 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 10, firm order of 13 Embraer E195-E2 and purchase right of 17 of the same aircraft type and firm order of five Embraer E175 and delivery of these aircraft would start early next year in addition to the five brand new Embraer E195-E2 already delivered.
He called on government to offer adequate support to the airlines, adding that they provide thousands of jobs which consequently contributes significantly to economic development in the country.
The Air Peace boss, while commending Nigerians and the federal government for supporting the airline to record remarkabke success in the past nine years since it started, pointed out current challenges that Nigerian airlines are facing whjch need to be resolved.
According to him the major one is the lack of transit facilities at the Nigeria’s international airports.
This he stated, has affected the ability of the airlines to compete favourable with others in international and regional routes.
Prime Business Africa reports that since inception nine years ago, Air Peace has expanded its routes of operations. Offering both scheduled passenger and charter flight services, it flies to many cities in Nigeria and several international destinations in Africa, Asia, Middle East and now Europe.
Apart from lack of transit facility, Onyema also identify some immigration policies which subject international passengers on transit to obtain visas on arrival and observe other procedure.
He called on the country’s immigration authorities to adopt a policy that recognises transit passengers.
we don’t have a transit facility where these passengers will stay until they board their next flight and Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service are yet to segment this class of passengers who in other countries are made to wait in the transit facility on the airside until they are due to fly again.
“Currently, Immigration treats them like other passengers whose final destination is Nigeria and are expected to obtain visas and follow other procedures like other passengers arriving in Nigeria. What is usually obtained is that as long as the passengers are not leaving the airport, they do not need visa because they are in transit.
“If Air Peace can bring these passengers from neighbouring countries and take them to farther destinations, the airline will do well on the long-haul routes. It is these kinds of policies that inhibit the success of Nigerian airlines. For example, the Katoka International Airport, Accra, has such transit facility and we take our passengers from there to Monrovia. For Nigerian airlines to compete and benefit from the Single Air Transport Market (SAATAM), we must upgrade our airports to include transit facilities. Immigration should adopt a new policy that recognizes transit passengers.”
The Air Peace chairman stressed that Nigeria needs to invest in upgrading infrastructure in its airports to boost operations of airlines and enhance their capacity to compete in the international stage.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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