The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chris Iwarah

  • Air Peace relaunches Asaba route October 8

    ……Adds Abuja to service

    Air Peace has unveiled plans to restart its daily Lagos-Asaba-Lagos flight operations on October 8.

    The airline, which pulled out of the route more than two years ago due to safety concerns with respect to the runway of the Asaba Airport, said it would also add Abuja-Asaba-Abuja flights to the service.

    A statement signed by Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the airline decided to return to the Asaba route to end the nightmare of air travellers seeking to connect the Delta State capital, Anambra and other adjoining cities.

    Air Peace, the statement assured, was going to offer unparalleled on-time, convenient, safe and affordable flight services on the Lagos-Asaba-Lagos and Abuja-Asaba-Abuja routes.

    Read Also: Air Peace deepens regional operations with night flights

    “We are pleased to announce our return to the capital of Delta State, Asaba starting October 8, 2018. Air Peace had to suspend flight operations to the Asaba Airport more than two years ago due to safety concerns with the facility.

    “Since we suspended our operations to the airport, members of the flying public have inundated us with calls and appeals to return to end their nightmare on the route. While we could feel their pain, there really was not much we could do about it since our decision to pull out was anchored on safety, an issue we could never compromise.

    “We are, however, thankful that the Delta State Government had to intervene to give the airport a facelift. We have been assured that the airport is now safe to operate into and we cannot but move in immediately to end the woes of members of the flying public wishing to travel to Asaba, Anambra and other connecting cities.

    “We are not just restoring our daily Lagos-Asaba-Lagos service; we are also adding Abuja-Asaba-Abuja flights to the offering to meet the yearnings of members of the flying public. It promises to be quite an exciting time once more on the Asaba route beginning from October 8”, the statement said.

  • We represent Nigeria’s greatness, Air Peace tells Nigerians in Ghana

    Air Peace has  assured Nigerians resident in Ghana that its strides in the aviation industry in West Africa are to project the image of the country positively across the world.

    The airline made the declaration at the Nigerian Charity Bazaar hosted by the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana in collaboration with the Nigerian Women Association in Ghana, among other pro-Nigerian groups.

    The bazaar was held at the Nigeria House, Accra to rally Nigerians from all walks of life and friends of Nigeria to celebrate the nation’s unity in diversity and commitment to charity.

    Speaking at the event graced by Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Michael Olufemi Abikoye, the ambassadors of Pakistan, India, China to Ghana, members of the diplomatic corps as well as leaders of the Nigerian community in Ghana, Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the airline was changing the negative narrative about Nigeria through its exceptional flight services.

    Read Also: Air Peace orders 10 737 MAX planes from Boeing

    Iwarah, who addressed the diplomats and other dignitaries during a visit to Air Peace stands at the bazaar, said the airline had deepened its commitment to creation of seamless connections in Nigeria, Africa and the world with the signing of an agreement with Boeing for the delivery of 10 brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

    Air Peace, he said, was the first and only airline on the West Coast of Africa to order the state-of-the-art aircraft from Boeing. He assured that the carrier, which had so far taken delivery of two of the four Boeing 777 aircraft it recently acquired for its long-haul services to Houston, London, Dubai, Sharjah, Mumbai, Guangzhou-China and South Africa, would continue to strive to make Nigerians proud with its flight operations.

  • Air Peace flight returns to base over false smoke alarm

    ….. NCAA renews licence

    Air Peace Lagos-Owerri flight returned to base on Friday after a passenger on board informed the crew that he detected smoke in the cabin.

    This is just as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has renewed the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of the carrier after months of rigorous audit of its operations.

    A statement issued by Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the Owerri-bound flight had to return to Lagos as a precautionary measure and in line with the airline’s zero-risk policy.

    The flight, the statement said, landed smoothly in Lagos with passengers on board maintaining their calm.

    Checks by Air Peace engineers, the statement added, confirmed that there was no smoke anywhere in the aircraft.

    “We confirm that our 9 a.m. Lagos-Owerri flight returned to base on Friday after one of our esteemed guests informed our crew that he was smelling smoke in the cabin. Although nothing indicated in the flight deck that there was anything wrong with the aircraft, our crew decided to return to base as a precautionary measure and in compliance with our zero-risk policy.

    Read Also: Our plans for international operations, by Air Peace

    “The aircraft landed smoothly in Lagos and our team of engineers immediately conducted thorough checks on the aircraft while all our guests calmly remained in their seats. The checks confirmed that there was neither smoke nor any other fault with the aircraft. Despite the assurances of our engineers that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the aircraft, we decided to transfer our valued guests to another aircraft to enable our teams do another round of checks in line with our high safety standards.

    “We commend our valued guests for their calm disposition and cooperation while the checks lasted. Although checks by our engineers confirmed that the aircraft was in perfect working condition, we encourage our guests to always feel free to share anything they notice in our flight operations with us as critical stakeholders of the Air Peace family”, the airline said.

    In another development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has renewed the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of the carrier after subjecting its operations to months of rigorous audit.

    The AOC signed by the Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Usman Muhtar, said Air Peace was authorised to undertake scheduled, cargo and charter operations.

    Speaking on the development, Iwarah said it confirmed the sustenance of the high standard of Air Peace’s flight operations.

    The airline assured that it would continue to place the safety of its guests and crew above any other consideration.

  • 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.

     

  • Air Peace launches Kaduna service

    ……We’ll unite Nigeria with flight operations, Onyema assures

     

    Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema has said the carrier is embarking on massive expansion of its domestic flight operations to tackle air travel difficulties in Nigeria and build bridges of unity across the country.

    Onyema spoke on Monday in Kaduna State in an address to mark the commencement of Air Peace’s daily flights from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos to the Kaduna International Airport.

    The launch of the airline’s Lagos-Kaduna service came exactly a week after the carrier started scheduled flights from Lagos, Abuja and Accra to Roberts International Airport, Monrovia, Liberia.

    Onyema, who was represented by Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah described the launch of the carrier’s Lagos-Kaduna service as a “significant milestone in our vision to unite our dear country, Nigeria through air travel and lift the nation’s economy through trade facilitation and massive job creation.”

    He said the airline, which also launched its daily flights to Kano and Yola on February 12 and 15, 2018 respectively, was working on setting up mini-hubs across Nigeria and the West Coast of Africa to strategically fix the challenges of air travel.

    “Our plan”, he said, “is to massively expand our operations from our base in Lagos into mini-hubs across all regions of Nigeria and the West Coast of Africa. We assure you that the North of Nigeria will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the massive expansion of our route network and fleet capacity. Since the first quarter of 2018, we have begun to take delivery of the six 50-seater Embraer 145 aircraft we recently acquired to serve cities with air transport difficulties under our subsidiary, Air PeaceHopper.

    Read Also: Air Peace, Benue seal deal on flights to Makurdi  

    “There is no doubt that as the leading and biggest airline in Nigeria with a fleet size of 24 aircraft, we are now more positioned to transform air travel experience in Nigeria, the West Coast of Africa and beyond. But more importantly, we are proud to use our flight services to build bridges of unity in Nigeria. We are not just achieving this by extending our flight operations across Nigeria without restriction, we also are doing so with our employment policy that does not discriminate on the grounds of religion, tribe and creed.”

    Onyema assured air travellers on the Lagos-Kaduna route of efficient, on-time and safe flight operations.

    “We are coming into the Kaduna route with a reputation for on-time performance and uncompromising stand on matters of safety. We promise to leverage the experience of our skilled staff and excellent business model to end the challenges of air travel on the Kaduna route and make Kaduna more accessible to leisure and business travellers,” he said.

    For his part, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris praised Air Peace for commencing flight operations to Kaduna.

    The royal father, who was represented by the District Head of Makera, Alhaji Shehu Tijani, assured the airline of the support and patronage of the Zazzau Emirate Council and the people of Kaduna State.

    Also speaking shortly after the launch flight, a 50-seater Embraer 145 operated by Capt. Matthew Ekeinde, Capt. Lawali Abubakar, First Officer Henry Khantiok, Lead Crew, Marylinda Okoye and Cabin Crew Executive, Sandra Nwagbologu, touched down to a warm reception and water salute by aviation regulators, workers and leaders of corporate organizations at the Kaduna International Airport at about 9.18 a.m., the acting Airport Manager, Mr. Jacob Ijaluwoye pledged the support of the management of the airport for Air Peace to ensure its success on the Lagos-Kaduna route.

  • Air Peace dismisses prophecy of impending accident as fake

    Air Peace on Friday urged members of the public to ignore a recorded voice message warning them not to patronise the airline and some other air and land transport companies.

    The airline, in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Chris Iwarah described the message as fake.

    “We would have loved to ignore the message so as not to dignify those behind it, however, we are compelled by the greater need to assure members of the public that the airline is adhering to all safety regulations.

    “It is a fake warning put out in the public space by criminal elements and people who do not mean well for the country, particularly airline operators, including Air Peace,’’ he said.

    According to him, the recorded warning has become a recurring, but futile and unproductive strategy by unpatriotic individuals to dissuade members of the flying public from patronising the airline.

    “Indeed, three years ago, the same faceless individuals recorded a similar message and started contacting us through fronts to make available some amounts of money to them to avert looming danger, which only exists in their imaginations.

    “Of course, we refused to yield to their threats and the dates they mentioned came and passed without a hitch,’’ he said.

    Iwarah disclosed that the airline also contacted Omega Fire Ministries, alleged to be the source of the trending voice message, and it denied being its source.

    According to him, the leader of the church, Apostle Johnson Suleiman denied the warning via his verified twitter account.

    “We, therefore, wish to reassure the general public that Air Peace is absolutely safe and operating strictly in line with global best practices in the aviation industry.

    “The voice warning should be ignored in its entirety, as it is a product of those who have deliberately put themselves at odds with success and safety,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the purported audio message was released on the social media, following Thursday’s accident on the Sir Michael Otedola Bridge in Lagos.

    Nine persons were reportedly killed and about 54 vehicles burnt in an inferno that occurred after a petrol tanker fell and spilled its content on the busy road at about 5.30 p.m.

    The audio message had warned members of the public not to travel out of Lagos on June 23, June 28, July 12, July 24, July 30 and Aug. 1, using the transport companies, claiming that they were “marked for blood’’.

  • How unauthorized persons opened our Aircraft cargo hold – Air Peace

    How unauthorized persons opened our Aircraft cargo hold – Air Peace

    Air Peace alleged yesterday that suspected bandits opened the cargo hold of one of its aircraft while holding for departure on Runway 18 Right (A1) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport , Lagos.

    According to the airline, the incident occurred about 7.35 pm on Thursday.

    Its spokesman, Chris Iwarah said the crew observed the development and insisted on thorough security of the Abuja – bound flight after the incident.

    Iwarah said the carrier’s crew acted in line with the high safety standards of the airline.

    In a statement issued on Friday, Iwarah said: “We are sincerely grateful to all our wonderful guests on board Flight 7138 for their support, patience and cooperation throughout the precautionary security checks conducted by Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) squad, Federal Airport Authorities of Nigeria Aviation Security and our security team after suspected thieves opened the cargo hold of our aircraft holding for departure on Runway 18R (A1) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos at about 7.35pm on Thursday, February 08, 2018.

    Read Also: NPA breaks monopoly in oil and gas  cargo 

    “Pilot-in-Command, Capt. Adesola Arasi had to contact control tower when he was alerted by the light that came on in the cockpit suggesting that the cargo hold was opened for about 15 seconds and immediately shut.

    “In line with our high security standards and the huge value we place on the lives of our guests and crew, Capt. Arasi insisted on having EOD squad check Flight APK 7138 before takeoff to be doubly sure nothing was deposited in the cargo hold by the suspected thieves to endanger the lives of our guests and crew.

    “Our guests, who were fully briefed of the development by the pilot-in-command, were advised to disembark from the aircraft and board an Air Peace bus while the joint security operation by EOD, FAAN AVSEC and our security team lasted. The Lagos-Abuja flight was cleared by the security experts after exhaustive screening of the aircraft lasting about 30 minutes.

    “The flight eventually took off at 9.30pm and safely landed in Abuja at about 10.23pm. Our satisfied guests commended the professionalism of Capt. Arasi and his team as well as the high safety standards of Air Peace.”

    The airline, he assured, would continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its guests, crew and equipment.

  • Air Peace launches Kano, Yola flights Feb 12, 15

    Air Peace launches Kano, Yola flights Feb 12, 15

    Air Peace has announced plans to launch its Kano and Yola services on February 12 and 15 respectively. The services, the airline said, will cover Lagos-Kano-Lagos, Kano-Abuja-Kano, Lagos-Yola-Lagos and Abuja-Yola-Abuja.

    The carrier had earlier fixed February 19 for commencement of its flights from Lagos to Freetown in Sierra Leone, Banjul in The Gambia and Dakar in Senegal. 

    With the addition of Kano and Yola, the airline will be  launching five new routes in February alone.

    Air Peace, which also plans to start its flights to Dubai, London, Guangzhou-China, Houston, Mumbai  and Johannesburg this year, said it would operate both morning and evening flights from Lagos to Kano.

    A statement issued by the carrier’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the new routes were a confirmation of the seriousness of its pledge to connect many domestic, regional and international destinations this year and make air travel seamless.

    “We are delighted to announce that Kano and Yola will be joining our fast-growing route network on February 12 and 15 respectively. The new routes will come on stream just days before the launch of our flights to Freetown, Banjul and Dakar. 

    “The huge expansion project is strategic to our vision to create dependable air connectivity and make travel experience seamless and comfortable. We are reputed for our on-time performance, uncompromising disposition to matters of safety, affordable quality service and excellent pro-customer orientation. 

    “These are the values we hope to bring to Kano, Yola and other routes we will be launching in the next few days. Importantly, we are not just expanding our route network, we are also massively growing our capacity in terms of equipment and human resources and positively impacting the economies of the states and countries we operate in.

    “In just three years of our flight operations, we have increased our fleet to a size of 24 aircraft and provided thousands of direct and indirect jobs. We have no doubt that our entry into Kano and Yola will not only solve the challenges of air travel in the North of Nigeria, but also greatly lift the economy of the region and transform the lives of the people,” Air Peace assured.         

    It added: “Our 6.40am and 5pm Lagos-Kano, 10.50am and 6.50pm Kano-Lagos, 8.30am Kano-Abuja and 10.20am Abuja-Kano flights were planned to ensure that our guests travelling to the three major cities for business and other reasons are able to conclude their transactions and still return to their places of residence.”