Hypocrisy of Air Peace: Exploiting the people of Southeast

In the annals of Nigerian aviation history, Air Peace is a name synonymous with resilience, national pride, and compassion.

The airline has built a reputation for stepping up during moments of national crisis, such as evacuating Nigerians stranded in South Africa during xenophobic attacks and those fleeing the civil war in Sudan. However, this benevolence is often overshadowed by a growing controversy: its seemingly exploitative business practices, particularly towards the people of Southeast Nigeria.

This unsettling narrative of Air Peace’s hypocrisy, exposes the manner in which it capitalises on the desperation and cultural obligations of the South Eastern populace during festive periods. The stark disparity in airfare prices, particularly during festive periods, and the airline’s seeming disregard for the financial burdens on its core customer base from the Southeast paints a grim picture.

Founded in 2013 by Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, Air Peace was established with a noble mission: to bridge the gap in Nigeria’s aviation sector, while providing affordable and efficient services to Nigerians. Given Onyema’s Igbo heritage, the airline became closely associated with the Southeast, a region long under-served in the country’s aviation infrastructure. The narrative that Air Peace was “by the people, for the people” resonated strongly, especially among the Igbo populace.

However, the realities of Air Peace’s operations often contradict this narrative. Complaints of exorbitant ticket prices, frequent flight delays, and poor customer service abound, with the Southeast routes—arguably the airline’s most profitable—being at the center of these issues.

For South Eastern Nigerians, Christmas is more than just a holiday; it is a cultural obligation. Families reunite, ancestral ties are reinforced, and the bonds of kinship are strengthened. This period witnesses a massive exodus of the South Eastern populace from urban cities back to their hometowns. Unfortunately, Air Peace appears to exploit this migratory pattern by imposing exorbitant airfares, effectively turning a cultural celebration into a financial burden.

An analysis of Air Peace’s ticket prices for December 2024 reveals an alarming trend. On December 17, a 30-minute flight from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to Anambra Airport cost an astounding ₦285,800 for Economy Class and ₦381,100 for Business Class. Comparatively, the same flight back to Abuja costs ₦120,400.

This disparity is not isolated. Just three days earlier, on December 14, the same flight route cost ₦95,600, while on December 15, it skyrocketed to ₦200,100. Similarly, a December 17 flight from Abuja to Enugu costs ₦200,100, but Enugu to Abuja on the same day is priced at ₦95,400.

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The exploitation intensifies as Christmas approaches. By December 19, the cost of flights from Abuja to the Southeast spiked to ₦238,200, further cementing the narrative of systematic price gouging.

What makes this trend even more glaring is the comparative pricing of flights to other Nigerian regions. On the same December 17, an hour-long flight from Abuja to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, costs ₦114,400 for Economy Class and ₦238,200 for Business Class. A 55-minute flight from Abuja to Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano, costs only ₦109,600.

These figures raise a critical question: why do ticket prices to South Eastern destinations surge disproportionately compared to other regions, particularly during festive periods?

Insecurity in the Southeast region has been a persistent challenge, marked by increased instances of violence, kidnappings, and road ambushes. This unfortunate reality has made air travel the safer and more convenient option for many residents. Air Peace, aware of this dependency, appears to have turned it into an avenue for exploitation.

By charging exorbitant prices, the airline effectively forces South Eastern travelers into an economic chokehold, leaving them with limited alternatives. This practice not only deepens financial hardships for families but also perpetuates a sense of systemic neglect and exploitation.

Air Peace’s actions towards the Southeast starkly contrast with its humanitarian initiatives elsewhere. The airline’s commendable efforts in rescuing Nigerians during crises in South Africa and Sudan highlight its capacity for empathy and national service. However, this same empathy appears to be absent when dealing with the people of the Southeast, despite the airline’s roots in the region.

The contradiction is glaring: how can an airline that prides itself on rescuing stranded Nigerians abroad turn a blind eye to the plight of its core demographic at home?

Few days ago, Aero Contractors, an airline whose owners are from the South South region of the country, significantly slashed their prices in line with the current economic realities being faced by Nigerians and also to encourage people from Southeast to patronise them within this festive and holiday period.

The plight of South Eastern Nigerians extends beyond Air Peace’s pricing policies. It reflects a broader narrative of systemic marginalisation, where the region’s concerns are often overlooked by federal and state governments, as well as regulatory bodies.

The aviation sector, like many others, is regulated to ensure fairness and protect consumers from exploitation. However, the lack of intervention by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other relevant agencies in addressing the exploitative pricing practices of airlines, particularly towards South Eastern routes, is concerning.

This neglect perpetuates a cycle of economic disenfranchisement, leaving the people of the Southeast vulnerable to exploitation by businesses.

Addressing this issue requires a multi-pronged approach involving the airline, regulatory bodies, and government authorities.

Air Peace and other airlines must adopt transparent pricing mechanisms that reflect market realities without exploiting regional vulnerabilities. The NCAA must intensify its oversight functions, ensuring that airlines do not engage in exploitative practices. Sanctions should be imposed on airlines found guilty of price gouging. Both federal and state governments must prioritize the interests of their citizens by creating policies that protect consumers from unfair business practices.

Civil society and consumer advocacy groups should educate citizens about their rights and mobilize collective action against exploitative practices. Investing in efficient and secure road and rail networks can reduce dependency on air travel, thereby mitigating exploitation during peak periods.

The festive season is a time of joy and celebration, particularly for South Eastern Nigerians who cherish the opportunity to reconnect with their roots. However, the exorbitant airfare prices charged by Air Peace during this period have turned what should be a joyous occasion into a financial ordeal.

The case of Peace Airline serves as a microcosm of the challenges faced by the Southeast in Nigeria. While the airline has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s aviation sector and displayed commendable humanitarianism in times of crisis, its exploitative pricing practices during festive periods reflect a troubling hypocrisy.

The people of the Southeast, who form a substantial portion of the airline’s customer base, deserve fair treatment and respect. It is time for Air Peace Airline, the government, and regulatory agencies to step in and put an end to this exploitation. Without deliberate action, the tradition of returning home for the festive season may become a privilege accessible only to the wealthy, eroding a vital cultural cornerstone of the Southeast.

The hypocrisy of an airline that rescues Nigerians abroad but exploits its own people at home is a disheartening reality that must be addressed. The systemic neglect of the Southeast by regulatory authorities and the broader government exacerbates this issue, further alienating a region that already feels marginalised.

It is imperative for Air Peace, federal and state governments, and relevant regulatory agencies to act swiftly. They must end the exploitative practices that target South Eastern Nigerians and ensure that the principles of fairness, equity, and national unity are upheld. Only then can we begin to repair the fractured trust between businesses, regulators, and the people they are meant to serve.

Professor Ochinanwata, FNSE is the Director of Enterprise, Nasarawa State University Keffi