Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has addressed the alarming mortality rate within the aviation sector, revealing that over 100 airlines have ceased operations in the last 40 years.
The PUNCH reported that he made this disclosure during the 10th anniversary celebration of Air Peace, West Africa’s largest airline and Nigeria’s flag carrier.
The event, held in Lagos on Saturday, provided a platform for Keyamo to highlight both the achievements of Air Peace and the challenges faced by the industry.
He expressed his excitement about Air Peace’s resilience, stating, “I am excited to be here today for two reasons. First is that Air Peace has survived for 10 years and keeps thriving. If you look at the history of airlines in Nigeria, you will discover that it is difficult for them to survive 10 years and still look healthy. We have a history of great mortality of airlines.”
Keyamo went on to reflect on the historical context, noting the significant loss of airlines, “More than a hundred airlines have gone in the last 40 years and I know you all remember. From Concord to Zenith to Bellview, among others. You will then ask yourself why they die off; I can keep mentioning them because I have their list with me.”
In an effort to tackle the high mortality rate in the aviation sector, he stated, “So when we came to office, we said there must be something responsible for this high mortality rate, and now we have Air Peace looking strong and has continued to be on the rise and not on the decline.”
Keyamo pointed to Nigeria’s critical role in African aviation, citing a recent study by Boeing that indicates Nigeria accounts for 80 percent of domestic travel across the continent.
He remarked, “The busiest route in the whole of Africa is the Lagos-Abuja route; that is, in the entire Africa. I think it is followed by Johannesburg-Cape Town. But Nigeria is number one in terms of domestic travel.”
With this substantial traffic, he questioned why many airlines struggle to survive, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the government and industry operators, “I have sat down with operators to solve this problem, and I listen to them.”
The minister also expressed optimism about Air Peace’s future, highlighting its success in defying the trend of high mortality in the early years of operation.
He remarked, “It has become reassuring that the 10-year-old Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, has defied the high mortality phenomenon, which happens to airlines with their first five to 10 years of operation, indicating that it will be a great carrier of the future.”
Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, echoed this sentiment, stating that the airline was founded not merely for profit but to create opportunities for Nigerian youth.
He said, “Air Peace is a product of deep thinking and a desire to make a far-reaching impact in a country I love deeply. Like most businesses, profit is an important motive; however, with Air Peace, profit was not the primary driving force behind its establishment.”
As Air Peace celebrates a decade of operations, both Keyamo and Onyema remain committed to addressing the industry’s challenges and ensuring the airline continues to thrive in Nigeria’s competitive aviation landscape.
