Published By News Editor
Chairman of Air Peace has denied news making the rounds on social media that airlines operating in Nigeria might increase flight ticket to about N120,000 for the economy class as a result of the lingering crisis and skyrocketing price of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1.
Sunrise News recalled that all airlines in the country had last month increased the ticket of a one hour flight in the country to N50,000, which was reversed last week by the Federal Consumer Protection Commission.
Onyema in a statement issued yesterday said increasing the flight fare to N120,000 would be arbitrary as it would not help the ordinary man, who would not be able to afford the fare.
Onyema explained that his remarks during a meeting with parliamentarians was taken out of context by some online publications.
Onyema, who is the Vice Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) said “Our statement at the event was taken out of context by the media.” Reproducing his exact words at the occasion, he said, what I said was that “From what is happening, if we continue this way (the increasing fuel price), the least ticket you will expect from airline will be N120,000 for economy and we don’t want to do that because it will not help the ordinary man.”
The statement said the Air Peace Chairman has the interest of the flying public at heart and will not make statements of take actions that suggests the contrary. Also he made these statements under the auspices of the the AON and not as chairman of Air Peace and therefore should not be seen for anything other than an industry concern.
He described as unprofessional journalism the deliberate misleading of members of the public with sensationalistic headlines, especially when critical national issues are at the front burner.
He therefore urged members of the public to disregard such publications as they do not reflect Onyema’s views at the legislative briefings.
Here is the full statement:
