Air Peace has said that without transit facilities at the Nigerian international gateways, especially the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the country cannot benefit from the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
Nigeria and 33 other African countries like Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Lesotho, Kenya and others have signed up to the SAATM.
Speaking with journalists over the weekend, Mr Stanley Olisa, the Spokesman for Air Peace, said that the failure of Nigeria to have transit facilities for transiting passengers was limiting the performance of the country’s airlines on international routes.
The airline also said that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) needed to recognize the transit passengers in its operations.
He said:
The airline also said that in a bid to perform optimally on the international scene, it’s now in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) clearing house, stressing that it has the right equipment and personnel to operate international service.
According to him, Air Peace had what it takes to succeed on the international routes and had forged strategic foreign operational alliances to sustain its overseas operations.
The airline however emphasized that the point-to-point operational model does not hinder the growth of airlines on international routes.
The airline also appealed to industry stakeholders to comment on the myriad of challenges confronting the Nigerian airlines, rather than castigating them when they are faced with challenges.
On delays and cancellations, which are prevalent among the country’s airlines, Olisa pointed out that no airline deliberately delays flights or takes delight in cancelling its flights, but most of these happen due to some industry challenges, which were not in the hands of the airlines.
