Nigerian airline Air Peace claims it has plans to launch flights to the United States before the end of the year. We’ll see how this plays out, as this sure could get interesting…
Continue reading: Air Peace Plans Nigeria To United States Flights
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It won't happen, although Lagos-Houston isn't necessarily a horrible idea.
A family member used to take the Houston-Luanda and v.v. flight regularly back in the day (not Air Peace, obvs). Does that route still exist anymore?
Ben,
There isn't "an" open skies agreement. The agreements are bilateral, and open skies is a philosophy. So U.S. and Nigeria have an open skies agreement.
While this will give them clearance from DOT, they'll still need FAA clearance on safety/operational aspects.
United couldn't make Houston-Lagos work despite years of trying;
Specialty carriers like SonAir have failed on their Houston-Africa ventures despite years of market presence;
Longer ranged private jets have made it easier for higher yielding passengers (to the extent that they travel to these sites) to get there directly, by their own means...
...meaning that the primary remaining bulk traffic on Houston-Africa, will be the blue collar grunts who'll travel en-masse via the cheapest way to get there, that usually being a connection in Atlanta or Europe in basic economy.
So I'm not sure who this airline plans to attract with a LOS-IAH, but good luck to them, in the process.
IAH-LOS is very different from IAH-LAD - there is a huge Nigerian immigrant community in Houston in addition to oil traffic. Of course the question, as always, is how much the VFR passengers are willing to pay. Perhaps it could work if this airline has low enough labor costs compared to UA.
Oh, and if they start IAH-LOS, I wouldn't be surprised to see UA immediately relaunch it in retaliation...
Notwithstanding the Open Skies BASA between the US and Nigeria, there is still the need for Air Peace to obtain a US DOT Part 129 permit.
This may be harder than expected given that their CEO is currently a fugitive from a warrant issued by the United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of Georgia after being indicted on 27 counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit credit application fraud, and three counts of credit application fraud.
The Houston to Lagos market is currently approx. 48k passengers per year in 2023, down from a peak of 80k in 2018. The market is shrinking rather than growing, even while markets like Atlanta to Lagos have grown from 36k to 48k in the same period. Draw your own conclusions from that data.
Ben, Remember your past enthusiasm for TAAG.
I have flown TAAG in the past out of necessity. I can't say that I flew either Arik Air or Air Peace, but I did fly Air Nigeria a lot in the 1980's, maybe 90's if they still existed (not sure). Beware of what you wish for.
This seems anyway to be an academic question as, with the CEO's history as related by Sean M.,the success of Air Peace application is dubious at best
The Air Peace Lagos-London Gatwick flights are operated by Norse 787s - i would expect the same tie up initially unless there are issues with 787s operating Lagos-US routes
Congratulations my brother.You have made us proud.You have represented Nigerians both home and abroad despite other tribes jealousy and theirs hates to the Igbo's is like a moon which hands can not cover.No matters the amount of hates,we must shine.The blessings is from above,Which is from God himself.Thanks and may Jesus/Allah God be with you and be your strength.As you're moving Nigerians to the next level before the end of this year.
From Me Big congratulations to Air Peace.
It's good for the airline to enroute Europe to gather more passengers. This will enable the airline to stabilise these 2 routes. Atlanta is definitely a lot busier than New York and Houston.
Fly Air Peace ️
This American Airlines are greedy so Air peace should humble them on that route Nigerians are committed to supporting our own airline, even if it cost more . It’s a national pride issue now
They have one of there 3 B777 in for maintenance.
The other 2 already have routes assigned to them.
The B777 in maintenance will be out by June/July and the Norse Atlantic B787 arrangement is scheduled to end at around the same time.
If it's 1980-1990, then it's Nigeria Airways.
Air Nigeria wasn't launched till 2004.
They're 2 different companies.
They are doing well currently in the Lagos to London route. Barely 2 weeks after launch, frequency was increased from 5 to 7 weekly. I don't think profitability of this route should be a question, it's a lucrative route, they can make it work.
But my doubts are in for Houston, NewYork might work, but Houston is doubtful.
The prices on the Lagos to London route has dropped drastically since they launched.
Economy has dropped from $4,200 to $1,100
Premium Economy $5,100 to $2,500
Business from $6,400 to $4,600
First class from $9,800 to $7,000
These are round trip fares for a flight similar in length and time as NewYork to London, 6.5hrs flight.
If long haul is anything like short haul on AP, you really DON'T want to fly them.
I've been reading some hilarious Nigerian articles about their LOS-LGW route recently. First, incumbent LOS operators to Europe are trying to destroy them by lowering their prices (increase in supply lowers prices overall - Economics 101) and, even more ridiculously, Gatwick Airport is trying to destroy the airline by forcing late departures and placing check-in desks in a part of the airport which had luggage belt breakdowns. Good grief.
All Nigerian airline have lower labour costs than industry average.
Flight Attendants probably be making 40-60% less than United.
Pilots might be around 20-40% less.
Living in Nigeria is cheaper than the States, Soo there's no need for them to make that much.
These data's are not accurate to the last.
Someone flying Houston to Washington or Houston to Atlanta or even to Europe might not be documented as Houston to Lagos traffic.
I understand that they take into account connecting traffic, but the general figure should be more than that.
Why would Gatwick be trying to destroy an airline? It's in an airports best interest to be able to boast as many airlines and destinations as possible!
@ChrisW - it comes down to the Government of Nigeria claiming that Gatwick airport management is discrimatory because they took almost an entire week before publishing on Twitter / X a welcome message to Air Peace while they welcome other airlines in just 1-2 days after their launch.
@Zephyr
5N-BWI (773) just came out of maintenance 2 weeks ago and is now operating KAN-JED
5N-BVE (772) is operating LOS-LGW and the occasional KAN-JED
5N-BUU (773) has been parked in Lagos for around 18 months now
@ZEPHYR -
Those figures are inaccurate.
Yes, there has been a reduction in real airfares due to additional capacity in the market, but the reality is that the Naira has also appreciated in value in this same period so not all of this is attributable to Air Peace. On the lower end, there are indirect fares on carriers like TK/ET in the 800k Naira range right now ($650) off-peak. And the same indirect fares were around 1.2m Naira a few months ago, which was the same value in USD terms. You can't compare an airfare being quoted at an 1800 Naira rate to one at a 1280 Naira rate. Also keep in mind that airlines sold tickets under the previous administration at between 200-400 Naira and have taken huge haircuts when repatriating their money after 5+ years in many cases!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eChlH0DuToU
I was on NewsCentral TV in Nigeria last week to discuss this in more detail, including specific numbers and reasoning if you want to have a deeper dive beyond the rhetoric that is being bandied about.
You do not understand colonialism. Britain sees Nigeria as their private property. They’re interested in who does what in Nigeria starting with rigging pre-independence elections and census count. Ticket price falling from $3000 to $800 overnight is not Econ 101. It’s an anti-competitive effort to run air Peace out of the route.
There is no fraud case against him and he is not a fugitive from justice. An elementary check on Google would reveal this. Stop spreading lies..
You have not explained why Nigerians for years could no longer afford direct flights to London and instead they fly through places like Dubai and other capitals, if they can still afford to. $3000 for 6.5 hrs flight may sound palatable when #200 buys the $ but not today. Either way, the foreign airlines are still fleecing Nigerians. Please stop spouting the nonsense from these airlines. They are now charging what resembles JFK to LHR rate that’s about the same duration.
@Okafor - Oga, if you do some research you will see that Gatwick Airport Limited's largest shareholder is Global Infrastructure Partners, whose Chairman and Managing Partner is Adebayo Ogunlesi. Effectively, Gatwick Airport is controlled by a Nigerian. Or is Bayo also part of the colonial conspiracy?
There is no fraud case against him and he is not a fugitive from justice. An elementary check on Google would reveal this.
*ahem*
"Allen Onyema, the founder of Air Peace airline, is still wanted in the United States after his alleged conspirator in a $20 million bank fraud case was sentenced by an American court on Friday."
Air peace ✌, forward ever, the lord God almighty will continually be with you my brother, in all your trips on international routes God almighty will preserve your safety in Jesus christ mighty name Amen, many of us your brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers are happy with you here in America .
Surely you don’t know what you’re saying because Allen Onyema have been acquitted by the Atlanta district court
https://guardian.ng/news/us-court-acquits-air-peace-boss-fines-mayfield-4000/
I will be happy to see this dream come true. My appeal goes to all Nigerians in USA to please be patriotic if it happens. Fly Air Peace even if you have to pay a few dollars more. I will encourage Air Peace to partner with Southwest Airline in US. This domestic airline will bring passengers for Air Peace from all over the US. It is going to be the game changer of the century in the aviation industry.
There's a reason why I gave my figures in dollar rate rather than Naira, I know it's been unstable for a while.
I understand that the exchange rates where higher during those times.
I looked at it from a perspective of someone booking from the US with Dollars rather than Naira.
Foreign airlines arguments previously about high airfares isn't actually exchange rates related, rather it's about the trapped funds, as they couldn't get there any money out of for a period of 6+ months.
Soo they used the higher fares to compensate.
Irrespective of how you look at it, Nonstop fares look a bit reasonable at ₦800k, but I have seen both virgin and BA fares around ₦800k for a direct flight just this week.
5N-BUU is supposed to be in maintenance, at least that was what was said during Christmas season when they had to bring in multiple A320 wet lease to cover the excess demands and lack of capacity.
There're rumours that Dubai routes will be coming back sometime this summer for both ways (Emirates and Air peace)
Tel Aviv will be suspended for longer.
Mumbai, Guangzhou might be back too.
Johannesburg (visa rules dependent) operates for now with E195-E2
He's not a fugitive.
His charges have been dropped.
The media is quick to spread negative news and forgets to update when it's something good.
https://guardian.ng/news/us-court-acquits-air-peace-boss-fines-mayfield-4000/
The charges against both Allen and Ejiro have not been dropped. Read the full article and you will see that it simply is based on an "assertion of innocence" rather than any court finding of innocence. The only charges that have been tried were against the co-conspirator Ebony Mayfield, who was convicted and sentenced. Neither Allen nor Ejiro's cases have come to court as they are still fugitive at large from the warrants issued.
Air piece should launch flight from Houston to Nigeria Abuja or Lagos as quickly as possible. Houston is the hob of Nigerian diasporians and represents the core, bread and butter of Nigeria outside Nigeria apart from London which is an extension of Lagos . Fly to Texas and discover tremendous Nigerian paytronization at the highest will to pay ur prize just name it
Air piece should launch flight from Houston to Nigeria Abuja or Lagos as quickly as possible. Houston is the hob of Nigerian diasporians and represents the core, bread and butter of Nigeria outside Nigeria apart from London which is an extension of Lagos . Fly to Texas and discover tremendous Nigerian paytronization at the highest will to pay ur prize just name it
There ya flight review on YouTube about an Air Peace flight from Lagos to Johannesburg. If they aircraft they plan to operate to US are anything like that 777, I suggest you save your money.
I like air peace, I took the flight from Abuja to ph, round trip, it was good. If air peace is coming to Houston, that will be so nice and I trust, they will come
Can't wait to see Air Peace start US routes!
Kind of hope they will also resume flights to Guangzhou - These days Ethiopian airlines and EgyptAir are slowly increasing their market share over US east coast-China market (seriously), and Air Peace could be another possibility.
I would like to be among the early passengers on airpeace flight to Nigeria from New York. The current airlines flying to Nigeria from the US need competition.
Unlike London, Nigerians are spread across the United States. I don't see how air Peace succeeds in either Houston or New York route without an alliance with a major US domestic carrier.