Did you know that it is now possible to fly via Air Peace from Nigeria to the United Kingdom?
Air Peace, it would seem, has refused to allow the foreign exchange challenge facing the aviation sector affect the services it renders to the public.
Amidst this situation, the airline is also accusing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), of refusing to release a $14 million it deposited with it.
One of Nigeria’s major airlines, Air Peace, says it will soon start taking passengers from Nigeria straight to the United Kingdom.
The chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, gave this update after securing a Foreign Carrier Operator Permit (FCOP).
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According to Onyema, the permit allows airlines from other regions to fly to Europe and Third Country Operator Permit (TCO-UK) and enables airlines to operate to the UK.
Onyema, said the airline went through stringent audits to ensure that it met the high safety status, before qualifying to fly to the UK.
Air Peace-CBN $14m Issue
Air Peace stated categorically that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was yet to refund a $14 million it paid into the bank, six months after lodgment.
According to Air Peace, the money was meant for maintenance of some aircraft, ferried abroad.
He said the money was paid into the CBN in Naira.
Hanging $24m With CBN
Onyema, revealed that the airline borrowed the sum at the rate of 26% from the banks.
This was due to the difficulties of accessing forex.
In all, he said the CBN is expected to pay the airline about $24 million.
He said: “We ferried 15 of our aircraft for maintenance overseas.
“We needed dollars to pay for the maintenance, so, we paid the equivalent of $14 million in naira to the CBN.
“The amount paid was to bring the aircraft back to Nigeria after the checks. We have not received this money.
“This money we borrowed at 26% interest rate, but six months have passed and we are yet to get this money from CBN. So, what the CBN owe us, is $24 million.
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“This is why we said that what we need is a conducive environment and Nigerian airlines will blossom.
“Pay these monies to us and Nigerian carriers will do very well,” he said.
Also, the Air Peace Boss is of the opinion that Nigerian airlines have capacity.
“What they need is support from our government,” he added.
