Victor EzejaNigeria’s largest career, Air Peace on Saturday, 30 March 2024 successfully launched its direct flight service to London from Lagos. This is a significant achievement for the airline that has made giant strides in the last 10 years since its debut.
The airline, which operated a 274-seat capacity Boeing 777 for the maiden flight, had a cream of top Nigerians in the first-class cabin as a show of solidarity with the airline established by Dr Allen Onyema, a detribalized Nigerian, renowned for his patriotic and philanthropic acts.
A video shared online made by billionaire businessman and socialite, Mr Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, showed the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, popular human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, Labour Party candidate in the upcoming Edo State governorship, Olumide Akpata, in the first class cabin.
Others were Senator Ifeanyi Uba, representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Chairman of the United Nigeria Airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, and Alice Onyema, Vice chairman of Air Peace among others from all parts of the country.
Watch the video here
The flight touched down at Gatwick Airport, London on Saturday morning.
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This maiden flight is coming four months (November 2023) after Air Peace’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Allen Onyema, announced that the airline had successfully obtained the Foreign Carrier Operator Permit and Third Country Operator Permit.
Prior to the launch of the direct flight to London, a video shared online also showed live screens at the Nigerian High Commission building in London. One of the inscriptions on the screens read: “Congratulations on the success of your inaugural flight from Lagos to London.” Other displays were the Air Peace logo and communication about the London flight.
This also reflects the amount of support the Air Peace airline has received from the Federal Government as a flag carrier on the London route.
During a brief ceremony held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to mark the maiden flight, the Minister of Aviation said it was as a result of the hard work and commitment he and others in government had made to pave the way for the airline to begin operations to London. Keyamo promised that the Federal Government would continue to protect the airline and other Nigerian carriers that might want to operate international service.
International flights had been exclusively operated by foreign airlines. Many analysts have raised concerns about high fares which they partly attributed to the absence of indigenous airlines that could spark healthy competition. Air Peace’s foray into the international market, starting with China, Mumbai in India last year, and now London, which is considered one of the most lucrative routes, many believe that it would engender healthy competition leading to a drop in air ticket costs and also help in strengthening the value of the naira through forex earnings.
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.
