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Tag: Air Peace

  • Air Peace deepens regional operations with night flights

    Air Peace at the weekend boosted its regional operations with the introduction of night flights out of Lagos, Accra, Banjul and Dakar.

    A statement signed by the carrier’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah quoted the Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide as saying the new flights were part of the airline’s strategy to make air travel on the West Coast of Africa seamless and more beneficial.

    Olajide described the night flights, which commenced from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Sunday, as a relief for business and leisure travellers on the West Coast looking to utilize their trips to transact their business unrushed.

    “We keep reviewing our regional operations in line with our promise to provide seamless, on-time and comfortable flight services. Whatever the travel needs of our esteemed guests, we want to be able to provide a service that fits their plans.

    “We have been operating on the West Coast of Africa for more than a year and a half. One thing we have come to realize is that a lot of persons like to travel at night and get to their destinations on time to do their transactions in a calm, unhurried and fruitful manner. This is the interest we are catering to with the introduction of night flights. We want our valued guests to arrive at their destinations, go about their business as they wish and still have enough time to prepare for their return trips.

    Read Also: Air Peace takes services to Kaduna

    “This is just the beginning of the new innovations and win-win travel options we are bringing to air travel on the West Coast of Africa. We value our guests and are always ready to make our flight schedules and timings as comfortable as possible for them”, she said.

    Speaking on the development, a passenger on the night flight from Dakar to Lagos, Nchang Damarisambem said the option met her desire to arrive Lagos on time and continue her onward journey to Calabar for her transaction.

    The flight, she said, was a pleasant experience. She pleaded with Air Peace to extend its operations to Yaounde, Cameroun, her country to give the people an opportunity of experiencing its spectacular flight services.

    Another passenger on the Dakar-Lagos flight, Turay Fatmataba said she preferred the night option for long-distance travel. She said the night flight was an easier option for her to get to Freetown, her final destination.

     

  • Our plans for international operations, by Air Peace

    AIR Peace has concluded plans to  kick off flights on some international routes it was designated on by Federal Government.

    The routes include: London, Houston, Dubai, Sharjah, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

    The airline said flights would begin before the end of the third quarter of the year.

    Its Chairman, Allen Onyema, disclosed this when the carrier took delivery of its second Boeing 777 aircraft.

    Onyema said the motivation to begin international flights was to resolve challenges Nigerians and other African passengers go through in connecting flights to many parts of the world.

    Onyema said  the carrier’s international operations would boost the economy, create more jobs in the nation’s aviation and allied sectors and offer travellers an exceptional choice.

    “We are very happy we’ve taken delivery of another of our Boeing 777 aircraft in preparation for our international operations and we are looking at commencing operations on one of the routes before the last quarter of the year.

    “We believe that this will enable us create more employment opportunities for Nigerians because that is the reason we exist. We want to help curb the unemployment situation in the country.”

    The Air Peace boss confirmed that the airline received its first Boeing 777-200 aircraft in February, adding that two more of the aircraft type were being expected before the end of the year to boost the airline’s international operations.

    Onyema said the Federal Government had designated Air Peace to operate flights to London, Houston, Dubai, Sharjah, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika for supporting airlines with the removal of value added tax and granting of waivers on aircraft spares.

    The new aircraft, a 320-seater Boeing 777-300 named “Ojochide” and marked 5N-BUU, was flown into the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos by Air Peace Chief Pilot, Capt. Victor Egonu and Senior First Officer Emmanuel Iwhiwhu.

    It touched down to a rousing welcome by staff of the carrier, aviation workers and water salute staged by men of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) lenges of Nigerians, Africans and other travellers on the long-haul routes.

    Also, Capt. Egonu and Iwhiwhu, who flew in the aircraft, said it is state-of-the-art with high performance capacity.

    The B777-300 aircraft has 12 first class, 48 business class and 260 economy class seats.

  • Air Peace begins Kaduna flights August 13

    Sir Peace will begin daily flights from Lagos to Kaduna from August 13 as part of its no-city-left-behind project.

    The airline earlier announced its four weekly flights from Lagos, Abuja and Accra to Monrovia, starting today.

    A statement by the Corporate Communications Manager, Chris Iwarah, said the carrier was pleased to connect and unite the South and North of Nigeria by air.

    He said: “We are delighted to announce that Kaduna will reflect on our route map starting from Monday, August 13, just exactly a week after the start of our four weekly flights from Lagos, Abuja and Accra to Monrovia.

    “The launch of our daily flights from Lagos to Kaduna is a pleasing consolidation of our pledge to connect and unite Nigeria by air. We are convinced that Nigeria stands to gain socially and economically if the North and South are seamlessly connected by air.

    “Our flights to Kaduna will afford travellers, especially in the North, an opportunity to experience the excellent services Air Peace has been reputed for since we began scheduled operations almost four years ago. The new route will perfectly fit into our strategy to end the travel difficulties of the North of Nigeria with our flights to Abuja, Yola, Kano, Sokoto, Benue, among other cities in the area.”

  • Air Peace for Monrovia-Abuja-Accra routes

    AIR Peace plans to kick off flights from Lagos and Abuja to Roberts International Airport, Monrovia, and from Abuja to Kotoka International Airport, Accra from  August 6.

    The development is coming days after the airline renewed its International Air Transport Association Operation Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate.

    The certficate was received by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Allen Onyema.

    In a statement, the airline’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah, said the new routes were part of the third phase of the carrier’s network expansion on the West Coast of Africa.

    Air Peace launched its first regional flight out of Lagos to Accra on February 16, last year.

    Last February 19, the airline added Freetown (Sierra Leone), Banjul (The Gambia) and Dakar (Senegal) to its route map.

    The new routes, Iwarah confirmed, will also connect Accra and Monrovia. The carrier added that many domestic routes, including Makurdi, Warri, Port Harcourt NAF Base and Kaduna, would soon join its network under its no-city-left-behind project. Air Peace also confirmed that it would soon reopen its Asaba and Sokoto operations.

    Iwarah said: “We are pleased to announce that Monrovia, Liberia and Abuja-Accra will be joining our route network on Monday, August 6, 2018. We will also be inaugurating our Abuja-Accra service, besides connecting Accra and Monrovia on the same date. This is our way of expressing our sincere gratitude to members of the flying public who have continued to support and endorse the Air Peace brand. The launch of the new services will afford air travellers on the Lagos-Monrovia, Abuja-Monrovia, Accra-Monrovia and Abuja-Accra routes the option of a truly efficient, customer-centric and exceptional alternative.

    “Since the launch of the first and second phases of our regional flight operations to Accra (Ghana), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Banjul (The Gambia) as well as Dakar (Senegal) on February 16, 2017 and February 19, 2018, we have received pieces of positive feedback confirming how our operations have transformed air travel and eliminated the challenges of connectivity on the West Cost of Africa. “

    We are determined to offer our valued guests an even greater experience in safe, on-time and efficient flight services. The inauguration of our Monrovia routes would bring our regional network to five important destinations. Lome, Abidjan, Niamey, Douala, among other cities, will also come on board soon.

  • Air Peace launches Monrovia, Abuja-Accra services August 6

    Air Peace said on Wednesday that it plans to commence flight services from Lagos and Abuja to Roberts International Airport, Monrovia and from Abuja to Kotoka International Airport, Accra effective August 6, 2018.

    The development is coming days after the airline secured the renewal of its International Air Transport Association Operation Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate.

    A statement issued by the airline’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the new routes were part of the third phase of the carrier’s network expansion project on the West Coast of Africa.

    Air Peace launched its first regional flight out of Lagos to Accra on February 16, 2017.

    About a year later on February 19, 2018, the airline added Freetown (Sierra Leone), Banjul (The Gambia) and Dakar (Senegal) to its route map.

    The new routes, Iwarah confirmed, would also connect Accra and Monrovia. The carrier added that many domestic routes, including Makurdi, Warri, Port Harcourt NAF Base and Kaduna, would soon join its network under its no-city-left-behind project. Air Peace also confirmed that it would shortly reopen its Asaba and Sokoto operations.

    Read Also: Air Peace decorates first woman captain 

    Iwarah said : “We are pleased to announce that Monrovia, Liberia and Abuja-Accra will be joining our route network on Monday, August 6, 2018. We will also be inaugurating our Abuja-Accra service, besides connecting Accra and Monrovia on the same date. This is our way of expressing our sincere gratitude to members of the flying public who have continued to support and endorse the Air Peace brand. The launch of the new services will afford air travellers on the Lagos-Monrovia, Abuja-Monrovia, Accra-Monrovia and Abuja-Accra routes the option of a truly efficient, customer-centric and exceptional alternative.

    “Since the launch of the first and second phases of our regional flight operations to Accra (Ghana), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Banjul (The Gambia) as well as Dakar (Senegal) on February 16, 2017 and February 19, 2018 respectively, we have received pieces of positive feedback confirming how our operations have transformed air travel and eliminated the challenges of connectivity on the West Cost of Africa. We are determined to offer our valued guests an even greater experience in safe, on-time and efficient flight services. The inauguration of our Monrovia routes would bring our regional network to five important destinations. Lome, Abidjan, Niamey, Douala, among other cities, will also come on board soon.

    “On the domestic side of our operations, unserved and underserved destinations, including Makurdi, Warri, Kaduna, Port Harcourt NAF Base and Bauchi are in line to experience our spectacular flight services. We are also going to restart our flight operations to Asaba and Sokoto. Preparations for our long-haul flights to London, Houston, Dubai, Sharjah, Mumbai, Guangzhou and Johannesburg are nearing completion and we will be announcing launch dates soon.

    “We are not just progressively expanding our route network to deliver on our goal of seamless air connectivity, we are also crystallsing our ultimate vision of bringing the world to Africa and Nigeria through the expansion of our capacity in terms of human resources and equipment. We have recruited a lot of personnel to deepen our service efficiency. We have also increased our fleet of Embraer 145, Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 to a size of 24 aircraft. We solicit the continued support and partnership of the flying public in our determination to give the best in air travel,” Air Peace said.

  • Senate probes Enugu Airport runway contract

    The deplorable condition of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu came under the scrutiny of the Senate Thursday.

    The upper chamber mandated its committee on Aviation to investigate the design and repair of the runway of the airport.

    This followed the presentation and adoption of a motion entitled “Need for emergency reconstruction of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.”

    The sponsor of the motion, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, who painted a gloomy picture about the airport, warned that the lives travellers who use the airport may not be guaranteed if nothing was done to fix the airport urgently.

    Read Also:Akanu Ibiam International Airport terminal ready soon

    Utazi said, “Informed that while aboard an Air Peace flight from Abuja to Enugu, the pilot made a chilling announcement about the state of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International airport and enjoined passengers on board who can get the necessary authorities to listen to help in immediately setting about the resurfacing of the runway to forestall accident as the potholes and cracks pot marking the runway make take-off and landing a bumpy and frightening undertaking;

    “Observes that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu is the first Airport east of the Niger that was built even before Nigeria’s independence and was only upgraded to the status of International Airport on August 24, 2013, long after PortHarcourt Airport was;

    “Notes that the runway before it was upgraded was 2400 metres length and 45 metres width but after the upgrade, it was extended to 3000 metres length which can now take medium to large size aircraft;

    “Informed that a result of a technical appraisal shows that due to high water table of the airport, water percolates and gets trapped between upper asphalt and bottom concrete and this persistent retention of water weakens asphalt and creates potholes and cracks as a result of the weight of landing aircraft which are now heavier that the aircraft of the 60s and 70s

    “Informed that palliative works carried out in the last quarter of 2017 to Create water drains embedded in the asphalt surface end to end have not solved the problem as transition between new asphalt and old asphalt makes the surface rough and bumpy;

    “Further informed that the airport also lacks approach lights at two ends of the runway which has necessitated that the airport operates between 7am to 7pm and the nearness of the runway to Orie Emene market attracts birds which perch around refuse dumps and abattoirs in the market that are awfully dangerous to aircraft engines especially during takeoff and landing;

    “Considering that the SouthEast is the last, among all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria, to have an international airport, the condition of the runway of the airport is disheartening and it would not only expose users of the airport to harm and avoidable accident, it would also discourage international airlines and interests from using the airport;

    “Notes that the upgrade of the airport to international status was a fulfillment of the dreams of the people of South-east of Nigeria who are famed entrepreneurs and have long clamoured for direct flights to parts of the world where they engage in myriad of commercial activities in order to cut costs associated with logistics and distance,”

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in his contribution said that about three years ago, the airport was shut down for upgrade.

    Abaribe said that the chamber should investigate who handled the contract in order to establish who why the runway had to breakdown in less than three years of its reconstruction.

    He insisted that in as much as the Ministry of Aviation should urgently do something about the airport, it was necessary to find out what went wrong.

    Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah who gave the technical side of the motion, said that the technically the Enugu Airport is unsafe.”

    The Senate adopted the prayer to “urge the Federal Ministry of Transport and other relevant Authorities, to as a matter of emergency, resurface and reconstruct the Runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and also extend the length of the Runway.”

     

     

  • Air Peace first all-female crew to fly Abuja, Owerri routes

    Air Peace female flight and cabin crew members will tomorrow take  full charge of the carrier’s four-sector flights on the Lagos-Abuja, Abuja-Owerri, Owerri-Abuja and Abuja-Lagos routes.

    The feat by the all-female crew is aimed at breaking the dominance by their male counterparts in the almost four years’ history of the airline.

    The development is coming days after Air Peace gave command to Sinmisola Ajibola, who made history as the airline’s first female captain and was decorated with her new rank by the airline’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema on Monday, June 25.

    A statement issued by Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager Mr. Chris Iwarah said the flight is  planned in Ajibola’s honour.

    “Captain Sinmisola’s achievement is a testament to Air Peace’s avowed commitment to gender equality and promotion of Nigerian women in aviation as possessing the requisite skills to distinguish themselves anywhere across the globe in their chosen career,” the airline said.

    Air Peace explained that although women occupy most of its top positions, “Sinmisola’s elevation is a great milestone in our effort to grow capacity for women in the cockpit”.

    Sinmisola, who will be in command of the four-leg flight, will be assisted in the cockpit by Senior First Officer Quincy Owen.

    The all-female crew flight scheduled to take off from the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos at 1310 hours is expected to arrive to a water salute at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 1420 hours.

    The flight will depart the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 1450 and arrive at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri to another round of water salute at 1550 hours.

    After a brief event at the Owerri Airport, the flight will leave at 1620 hours for Abuja and arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 1720 hours. The flight will finally depart the Abuja airport at 1750 hours and touch down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport at 1900 hours.

  • Air Peace first all-female flight goes to Abuja, Owerri Thursday

    Air Peace female flight and cabin crew members will on Thursday take full charge of the carrier’s four-sector flights on the Lagos-Abuja, Abuja-Owerri, Owerri-Abuja and Abuja-Lagos routes.

    The feat by the all female crew breaks the dominance by their male counterparts in the near four years history of the airline.
    The development is coming days after Air Peace gave command to Sinmisola Ajibola, who made history as the airline’s first female captain and was decorated with her new rank by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema on Monday, June 25.

    A statement issued by Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the flight is planned in honour of the carrier’s first female captain, Sinmisola Ajibola.

    “Captain Sinmisola’s achievement is a testament to Air Peace’s avowed commitment to gender equality and promotion of Nigerian women in aviation as possessing the requisite skills to distinguish themselves anywhere across the globe in their chosen career,” the airline said.
    Air Peace explained that although women occupy most of its top positions, “Sinmisola’s elevation is a great milestone in our effort to grow capacity for women in the cockpit.”

    Read Also: Air Peace decorates first woman captain

    Sinmisola, who will be in command of the four-leg flight, will be assisted in the cockpit by Senior First Officer Quincy Owen.
    The all-female crew flight scheduled to take off from the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos at 1310 hours is estimated to arrive to a water salute at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 1420 hours.

    The flight will depart the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 1450 and arrive at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri to another round of water salute at 1550 hours. After a brief event at the Owerri Airport, the flight will leave at 1620 hours for Abuja and arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 1720 hours. The flight will finally depart the Abuja airport at 1750 hours and touch down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport at 1900 hours.

  • Air Peace decorates first woman captain 

    A pilot, Simisola Ajibola, has become the first woman captain to be decorated by Air Peace Airlines.

    Ajibola, who joined the airline  in February 2017 as a Senior First Officer (SFO),  is from a family of pilots, father and four brothers, three of whom are with Air Peace.

    Presenting the new captain to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, for decoration, the Chief Pilot, Capt. Victor Egonu, said he predicted Sinmisola’s elevation on the first flight she operated with him.

    Decorating Sinmisola with her captain epaulettes at the airline’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, Onyema said he was proud of her achievement.

    He urged the new captain to sustain her outstanding performance in and out of the cockpit.

    He praised the airline’s pilots and their colleagues for displaying excellence in the cockpit as well as standing tall among their counterparts across the globe. Air Peace has eight women pilots in its employ.

    Meanwhile, Igbo women have urged Air Peace to quicken the launch of its international operations, saying they would mobilise their members and other air travellers to patronise the carrier on its long-haul routes.

    The women, under the aegis of Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora, gave the assurance  in Enugu.

    The Southeast women, who conferred Air Peace with the award of “Best Air Carrier of the Year”, said they were proud of the airline’s route network expansion. Air Peace, they said, has made air travel in Nigeria seamless and reliable.

    Presenting the award to Air Peace, Founder of Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora, Lolo Kate Ezeofor said the group was anxiously waiting for the launch of the airline’s international routes.

    The group, she pledged, would support the carrier to ensure the success of its long-haul operations.

    Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah, who received the award on behalf of the airline, commended Umuada Igbo for recognising the carrier’s efforts to transform air travel in Nigeria and beyond.

    He assured the group that the airline would be outstanding in its international flight services. Air Peace, he said, was making a success of its vision to create jobs and transform air travel.

    He commended Umuada Igbo’s community development projects, saying they tallied with Air Peace’s goal of encouraging development through job creation and seamless air connectivity.

  • Air Peace, Benue ink deal on Makurdi flights

    Air Peace has sealed a deal with Benue State government to operate flights to the state capital, Makurdi in a few weeks’ time.

    Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony in Abuja, Chief Operating Officer for the airline, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide said the airline would deliver exceptional flight experience to residents of Benue and others travelling on the Makurdi route.

    The route will be serviced by an Embraer 145 jet under Air Peace Hopper, the airline’s subsidiary. The flights to Benue will terminate at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Markudi.

    The operations, Olajide confirmed, would cover Abuja-Benue-Abuja and Lagos-Benue-Lagos.

    Chief of Staff to Benue State Governor, Hon. Terwase Obunde assured Air Peace of the government’s support to ensure its success on the Makurdi route.