Victor EzejaChairman of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, has assured that the airline can now fly passengers from all its domestic routes in Nigeria to London.
He said passengers who wish to travel to London can book from any of the locations in Nigeria where the airline operates and fly via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos, seamlessly with a simple luggage transfer upon arrival in Lagos.
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He gave the assurance at a special event, organised by Fidelity Bank in Lagos on Sunday, April 21, 2024, to celebrate Air Peace for its milestone achievements in the last 10 years including the commencement of scheduled flight operations into London, United Kingdom last month.
“Air Peace flies you from any of our domestic routes to London. So, you can fly from Yola to London via Lagos. From the local airport, you are taken to the international airport free of charge with a seamless luggage transfer,” Onyema assured.
Onyema, who noted that the journey has not been easy since he founded the airline, expressed gratitude to the flying public, various aviation stakeholders, the media and the government for the continued support since it launched in 2014.
He called on Nigerians to support the airline to sustain the newly launched London service.
“For every penny you pay to Air Peace, you pay to sustain the jobs of thousands of Nigerians and support economic growth,” Onyema stated.
Prime Business Africa recalls that the airline launched its direct flight service to Gatwick Airport in London on 30 March 2024. Since then, it has been operating 7 flights weekly on the route.
The airline’s entry into the route led to the crashing of ticket prices by other foreign airlines that have been operating the route, setting the stage for intense competition.
The Air Peace boss acknowledged the pivotal role played by former Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Engr Ben Adeyileka, in helping the airline secure its Airline Operator Certificate (AOC).
Speaking during the event that held at Civic Center, Fidelity Bank Managing Director Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, commended Air Peace’s giant strides and financial discipline which it has upheld since inception.
She said: “Air Peace has been very loyal to us. We are grateful to have them as our client and we are celebrating their milestone of launching direct flight service to London and other milestones they will achieve.”
Onyema Appreciates Fidelity Bank
The Air Peace boss expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank for the bank’s consistent support and stressed that it had contributed to the success story of the airline.
“I call it our journey with Fidelity Bank. I did not envisage this day would come when an indigenous institution would be celebrating another indigenous institution. Fidelity supports real business. They keep removing people from the streets of poverty. Let other banks emulate Fidelity,” he added.
Onyema highlighted Air Peace’s role in job creation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), adding that the motivation behind the business was to empower Nigerians economically.
“Air Peace was not borne out of the intent to profiteer but to create jobs. Air Peace was not established because I wanted more money but because of the conviction that running an airline would create massive job opportunities. That was why we went into aviation,” he stated.
Noting how the airline has never failed to engage in humanitarian interventions for Nigerians, especially the evacuation flights at critical times, the entrepreneur and philanthropist asserted that Air Peace truly cares about the Nigerian project, and supporting the airline means supporting the growth of the Nigerian economy.
He pledged that the airline would continue to adhere to all safety standards set by the aviation authorities. He applauded the Management and staff of Air Peace for their efforts in realising the London dream.
He also seized the opportunity to address the issue of ethnic division in the country, urging the citizens to shun what he called “ethnic nationalism” and promote unity across the country. He also clarified that Air Peace is not an Igbo airline but belongs to over 200 million Nigerians.
“Let’s shun ethnic nationalism and spread love and broad nationalism. Air Peace is not an Igbo airline. It is a Nigerian airline that belongs to two hundred million people,” Onyema stated.
The event was attended by stakeholders in the aviation sector, media personalities, and well-wishers of both Fidelity and Air Peace brands.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
