Domestic airline operators are of the believe that the new national carrier, Nigeria Air will not be a threat to their existence if a proper procedure is followed.
Barrister Allen Onyema, the owner of Air Peace and chairman of the 22nd League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents ( LAAC) said he wants every airline to succeed hence his consideration for not flying into routes already occupied by other airlines.
He however lamented on unconducive environment domestic operators have to deal with, which includes security threats, financial issues, coupled with the fact that Nigeria airlines are not been protected by the Nigerian government.
Barrister Onyema in spite of challenges faced in the industry encouraged partnership and corporations among airlines operators stressing that KLM and Lufthansa are doing same.
He said the national carrier wont be a threat to any airline operator if the work in partnership.
He however, noted that Merger will be necessary to strengthen the domestic carriers but queried the idea of force merger. Rather, he said what the indigenous airlines need is agreed cooperation which they have failed to do due to mistrust.
He wondered why Nigerian airlines do not cooperate when big global airlines that are in competition are interlining and cooperating, “so I challenge us to cooperate,” he said.
Also speaking in the same vein at the Seminar, the Managing Director, Top Brass Aviation, Capt. Rowland Iyayi, said there is a major role to play by government in Aero politics.
He decried that what we have in Nigeria is destructive competition not competition that will make us grow.
He noted that the policies are wrong and the operators of these policies are not there to operate the policies they put in place.
He emphasised that nobody gets into business to fail “ but in Nigeria, Right from the day you set up an airline, you’re doomed for failure,” he pointed out.
Recall that the Federal Government unveiled the name for the national carrier that would be launched at the end of this year.
Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika unveiled the airline’s name, “Nigeria Air”, at the Farnborough Airshow in London, United Kingdom.
The event was attended by stakeholders, aircraft manufacturers, prospective investors and Nigerian government delegation, including the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Transportation, Sabiu Zakari and others.
