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The Commission explained that it’s invitation to the airline is simply for an inquiry to understand its price methodology and respond to consumers complaints.
The Director, Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, disclosed this in Abuja when Onyema led some members of his team to honour the invitation extended to the airline.
He said, “Thank you so much for honouring our invite in person. We have gained more insight into your operations. Just again to reiterate that it is not an investigation, it is an enquiry to understand and again, find out based on consumer complaints.”
She noted that the Commission exists for the good of businesses, customers and the operators, stressing that business stability and sustainability are core to their mandate.
“We will review the situation and intervene where we can, not just for Air Peace customers but generally for all air passengers and other consumers of aviation services,” she said.
The FCCPC director also commended Onyema for his love for the country and philanthropic spirit and advised him not to let anything deter him from his services to humanity.
Earlier the Chairman of Air Peace, Onyema explained that the fare pricing in the aviation sector is a global thing but lamented that the fare regime in Nigeria is not commensurate to the cost of putting an aircraft in the air, thus the reason why airlines frequently go under in Nigeria.
He argued that the choice before Nigerians going forward would be flying safe and sustainability of the airlines, which requires proper pricing based on global standards or watch the airlines go under due to poor pricing. “We need flight safety in Nigeria. For us at Air Peace, safety is a pre-condition rather than just a priority.”
He pointed out that the cost of flying anywhere in the world is priced at between $250 to $300 for an hour and in some cases even as high as $540, adding that this is what could pass for fair pricing, which Air Peace does not follow because of the low purchasing power of Nigerians.
Onyema argued that the addictive nature of aviation business and patriotism have kept him in the business, stressing that if Air Peace is to factor the numerous charges involved in its operational cost, not many Nigerians would afford to fly.
