Air Peace Threatens Flights Suspension In Gombe
The chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, says 95% of the reasons for flight delays are beyond the airlines’ control.
Onyema, the vice president of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), bemoaned the fact that operators were being vilified and demonized even by government entities for flight delays that were largely out of their control.
At the public launch of the book “Air Transportation In Nigeria: The Lingering Expectations,” written by aviation writers Chinedu Eze and Olusegun Koiki, he gave a speech on Thursday in Lagos.
A suspension of the Air Peace trip to Gombe was also threatened by the chairman of the airline due to a lack of luggage and passenger screening scanners.
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He bemoaned the inadequate facilities at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, claiming that only a few check-in counters were being used by roughly ten airlines.
He said that flights from Lagos to Abuja would be hours late before continuing to their next destination.
“We have written to FAAN, in fact, the AON has written to the ministry on the issue of the Abuja check-in terminal. It’s crazy out there, nine or 10 airlines in one small space, it is not encouraging.
“However, a few days ago, the MD of FAAN spoke to me and said they were going to do something about it. What we are asking for is expansion. The old international terminal in Abuja is lying fallow. Some of us should go there so we have enough counters for check-in.”
He said the airline was receiving assistance from the state government at the Gombe airport and had contacted the airport administration to request the requisite scanners for the security of travelers and other airport users.
