The Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has disclosed that the airline recorded 49 bird strike incidents across Nigeria in 2025, describing the situation as a serious setback to airline operations.

Onyema made the disclosure on Sunday during an interview on ARISE NEWS, where he outlined multiple challenges confronting Nigerian airlines, including frequent bird strikes, multiple taxation and what he described as persistent attacks from government agencies.

According to him, Air Peace recorded 49 bird strike incidents between January and September alone, noting that even a single incident can render an aircraft unserviceable for weeks.

“Air Peace has had 49 bird strikes in Nigeria from January to September. One bird strike could cripple your aircraft for the next month. At that moment, there’s no two ways about it,” Onyema said.

He explained that bird strikes often lead to serious delays, flight cancellations and high maintenance costs, stressing that airlines bear the full burden of the resulting disruptions.

Onyema also reacted to allegations made by some government agencies, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which has accused airlines of exploiting passengers through high airfares.

He described the accusations as unfair and damaging to local carriers operating within the country.

“We in the Airline Operators of Nigeria have come out to say that enough is enough. The bashing of Nigerian airlines doesn’t stop,” he said.

“It’s very painful when it’s coming from government agencies that should know better. Using words like ‘exploitative’ and ‘coordinated price-fixing’ is very, very unfair to these airlines.”

Dismissing claims of price-fixing, Onyema said airfare pricing varies based on demand and booking timelines, particularly during peak travel seasons such as Christmas.

“It is untrue that every fare is 500,000 or 400,000. When you go to the inventory, you will still see tickets for 150,000 naira,” he said.

“You can be on the same aircraft with someone who paid 125,000 naira, and another person who paid 350,000 naira.”

He added that Nigerian airlines still offer some of the cheapest domestic airfares in the world.

“We still have tickets for as low as 115,000 naira, which is less than 60 dollars,” Onyema said.

“Nigerians are flying the cheapest fares in the world domestically.”

Speaking on taxation, Onyema stated that airlines receive only a small portion of ticket sales due to numerous charges imposed by government agencies.

“When you take a ticket of 350,000 naira, only 81,000 naira comes to the airline. The rest goes to taxes and levies,” he said.

According to him, the heavy tax burden is threatening the survival of domestic airlines.

“The government has got to look at the excessive, multiple taxation. We are suffering from multiple charges. It’s unsustainable,” he added.

Onyema also raised concerns over aircraft damage caused by ground handling companies, revealing that one of Air Peace’s newly acquired aircraft suffered severe damage.

“One of our brand-new planes, bought with over 85 million dollars, was damaged by a ground handler. The thrust reverser of that engine is gone,” he said.

“The engine alone costs about 18 million dollars.”

He further alleged sabotage in a separate incident involving one of the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft, which was grounded for three years due to engine-related challenges.

“One of our 777s had an Aircraft on Ground for three years because we couldn’t get the engine anywhere in the world,” he said.

“When the engine finally arrived, the ground handler pierced through the centre of it. This is sabotage.”

Onyema called for urgent reforms in the aviation sector, including allowing financially capable airlines to manage their own ground handling operations to enhance safety standards.

“It’s time to allow airlines that can afford to do their own ground handling to take that responsibility,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Onyema reaffirmed Air Peace’s commitment to providing affordable and safe air travel, while urging the government to offer stronger support to local airlines.

“We need better support from the government, better safety standards and a fairer tax regime if Nigerian airlines are going to survive and grow,” he added.