Europe Ambitions
If ever there were any doubts about Air Peace’s ambitious plans for the European routes, the airline has cleared all such uncertainties with two strategic moves: the purchase of a Boeing 777 and a strategic meeting with its key travel partners.
The Boeing 777 is its fourth and the carrier, making no bones about its intentions, said the aircraft was part of its plan to “connect Nigeria to mote global destinations, including London, Europe and South America.” Air Peace is already operating regular Lagos-Gatwick services and has commence Lagos-Abuja-Heathrow. The Boeing 777 would be a crucial part of its operations on the London and other European routes. To reafrm its plans for the European routes, the airline followed up with a high-level meeting with travel agencies across the country to further solidify its ambitious look at the European markets.
Tagged Travel Partner Forum, the event was held in Abuja, and brought together leading travel agents, industry stakeholders, and global travel solutions providers in a bid to strengthen partnerships and ensure the success of the new route scheduled to take off soon. Courting the “travel partners” is quite understandable. Typically, airlines generate 50 per cent of their ticket sales through travel agencies. According to IATA, the estimates cover the air transport sector’s distribution channels with intermediaries such as Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) handle about 30 percent while GDS or traditional agencies handle 20-30 per cent of corporate and leisure sales.
