Air Peace CEO Warns Unions Against Disrupting Aviation

Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace Limited, warned aviation unions not to initiate actions that could lead to significant disruptions in the aviation industry. His remarks followed threats from unions to picket airlines over debts owed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Onyema highlighted the severe financial pressures on domestic carriers, including high borrowing rates and illegal union interference, which threaten their survival. He noted that an agreement had been reached between the NCAA and airlines regarding debt payments, which had accumulated due to rising aviation costs during the US-Iran war.

Speaking at the book launch of Muneer Bankole, Chairman of Med-View Airline, in Lagos, he stated that domestic airlines face some of the harshest operational conditions globally. Onyema also revealed that Air Peace experienced 56 bird strikes in one year, leading to significant repair costs.

He criticized union attempts to enforce debt recovery on behalf of government agencies as unprecedented and warned that any disruption to airline operations could jeopardize aviation safety.