According to Air Peace’s Chief Operating Officer, Toyin Olajide, all economy class tickets on the airline’s flights from Lagos to London are reserved for the next sixty days, beginning in July.
Travel agencies and Nigerian passengers on the Lagos-London route have commended Air Peace for starting flights to European locations three months ago.
Olajide acknowledged the many difficulties the airline had encountered on the route in a recent interview in Lagos, but he was pleased that the carrier was now providing Nigerians with an alternative.
Air Peace’s Lagos to London Flights Fully Booked for 60 Days
Olajide claims that every economy seat on the airline’s Sunday, June 30, 2024 flight was taken, and every one of the 41 business class seats was also taken. She mentioned that there had been a problem with advertising first-class seats, which has since been resolved by the management.
Furthermore, Olajide clarified that Nigerians who are travelling to the UK from the US frequently reserve Air Peace to Lagos in order to take advantage of cheap flights from the US to Europe.
When compared to direct flights from the US to Nigeria, this results in significant cost savings for passengers on the US-UK-Nigeria itineraries.
She also added that, in order to save money on their travels, Chinese nationals residing in Nigeria usually take Air Peace to London before connecting with China Southern Airlines to China.
She said: “But our system did not advertise our first-class seats, an error that has been corrected. So, what it means is that we recorded a very high load factor, only 12 seats in the first class and one business class seat; that is, 13 seats were empty out of the 274-seat capacity aircraft. We thank Nigerians. We appreciate the fact that they are happy with the airline.
“We recently upgraded two passengers who flew from the US to London and used our flight to Lagos. We upgraded them from economy class to business class in appreciation of their commitment and desire to patronise us. But they also take advantage of the cheap flights between Europe and the US, and our flights are also affordable. So, this enables them to save a lot of money.
“The entrance of Air Peace into this market has not only increased accessibility but also diversified the passenger base. Remarkably, the airline has attracted elderly passengers who previously could not afford high ticket prices post-pandemic, as well as students returning home for family events and reunions. This influx has resulted in a 5 per cent to 15 per cent increase in passengers.”
Air Peace Expands Its Asian Footprints with Direct Flights to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Olajide claims that Air Peace’s operations have been instrumental in enhancing the favourable brand positioning of Nigerian companies.
Products such native long-grain Nigerian rice, Gratia chin chin flakes, Olu Olu chips, and farm-fresh yoghurt had become more well-known and had a wider market reach.
“This ripple effect has benefited small businesses and local farmers who supply produce like tomatoes, peppers, and spinach, contributing to an economic expansion of over N2bn,” she added.
The Federal Government has initiated the process to allow Nigerian airlines to have direct access to international routes to the United States and South American countries, according to a recent announcement made by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo.
Air Peace began offering flights from Lagos to London on March 20.
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