Air Peace: Chairman threatens to shut airline
Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace might cease its operation in the aviation sector as the chairman, Allen Onyema has threatened to shut down the airline over alleged industrial action by its pilots.
The social media was inundated with the news of the airline’s pilots strike owing to new salary structure. According to a statement by the management of the airline, it said the information is not only unfounded but it is also mischievously orchestrated by its source to portray the airline in bad light. The airline said: “This is to categorically state that our pilots are not on strike and nothing can warrant such development. The members of the public are advised to ignore such publication as our pilots have not downed tools.
“Air Peace will continue to provide best-in-class flight services while observing the highest safety standards.”
However, Onyema in a leaked statement had stated that the airline has the best salary structure in the industry and has consistently paid over 110% of what is obtainable in the sector. The chairman in the leaked Memo noted that such news of the airline’s pilots going on strike is disheartening and should not in any way arise giving the premium it places on its staff and pilots. In the said memo it is alleged that he will not hesitate to shut down the operations of the airline on account of such intimidation by the pilots of the carrier.
“I have just been informed a few minutes ago that our pilots gathered at the airport car park and refused to fly on an account of the new salary review while others refused to even come to work on very spurious reasons. I also heard that some are being excused on account of not having done COVID crew training, four months after it started. Today has really opened my eyes to things I should have known before now. It is very unfortunate that some of you chose to embarrass this airline at this point in time.
This is the airline that changed the lots of pilots in this country by giving you a salary no airline has ever paid you in Nigeria in one fell swoop – over 110% increase at once. This airline has broken the banks for five years paying you huge salaries to the consternation of other airline investors in the country who have not ceased condemning me and Air Peace for the salaries it introduced in the industry.
“Besides your huge salaries, you have been receiving end of year bonuses in this same airline! Your salaries have always been paid in the last five years promptly, even before the end of the month. No one has ever been owed salary for one day.
“These huge salaries didn’t all come from revenue, some were borrowed but at least we had hopes then. It is on record that throughout 2019, majority of you flew an average of 25hrs in a month for over a year and the company never ceased paying you. Now, the pandemic has set in with its debilitating effects on every airline worldwide, Air Peace not left out. You were all addressed about this new salary before now.
“Where is the airline going to break banks again from to pay you? Since the resumption of operations, you have all seen the passenger load. We have not achieved an average of 40% load factor. You are doing 28 flights from the former 110 flights before now. Where is this money going to come from? Have we done things others are not doing or even worse?
“Is this the way to reward an airline that has changed your fortune in your chosen career? Even when you were addressed that the new salary will run for 90 days after which a review would be done to determine if we are moving up the salaries or remaining where we are now or even going down further. The current revenues generated since resumption cannot even pay the current salary for this month hence management’s approach to the bank yesterday. Pilots are not the only persons working here, other departments are equally human beings and deserve to earn some wages too.
“The truth is, and this is very bitter, we cannot go back now to yesterday until the factors that brought about this situation abate. It is not your fault, neither Air Peace’s fault. My heart bleeds that very many of you could brazenly adopt this route to embarrass the airline and force it to do the impossible. It is unfortunate. The Leaked Memo ended with a threat to close the Airline if they did not return to work. I am very sorry, with all this company has been to pilots especially, we will not accept this blackmail even if it means closing down the airline.”
After the Memo was leaked the Airline later released the Statement announcing that all Flight Schedules were maintained as no strike took place.
