By Kehinde Ibrahim, Lagos
The Air Peace has lifted over 24 million passengers since inception and still counting expressed gratitude to Nigerians.
This is one of the revelations during the Airline’s 10th anniversary, held in Lagos, over the weekend.
Speaking at occasion, the Chairman/ CEO of Air Peace Limited, Dr. Allen Onyema, commended the federal government for its deliberate efforts in transforming Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Onyema noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been intentional about bringing long-lasting changes, aimed at making air travel friendly and convenient.
Onyema remarked that hope began to rise in the aviation industry over the past year with the appointment of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who has undertaken a revamp of the industry, thereby increasing the competitiveness of Nigerian airlines.
“Now, you must have noticed some changes in the aviation industry in the last one year. I want to use this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating a platform through the instrumentality of his appointment of Festus Keyamo as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
He also noted that the airline is a national project owned by Nigerians. “So, we are very grateful to Nigerians from all walks of life. Air Peace belongs to all of you. Air Peace does not belong to the Onyema family; it belongs to all Nigerians. We believe that this airline belongs to all Nigerians.”
“Look at the faces of thousands of Nigerians this airline has provided a platform for, enabling them to earn a livelihood and support their families. That should be your concern,” Onyema added.
He recalled a recent incident where a passenger on Air Peace’s Lagos-London flight created a video to complain about the airline diverting a flight bound for London to Manchester due to bad weather, and explained that the flight was delayed in departing from Nigeria because of the weather and that it took off when conditions allowed, based on the weather report. “Five minutes before landing, the weather deteriorated, forcing Air Peace and other airlines to divert their flights to Manchester and other cities instead of landing at Gatwick.”
He regretted that the passenger, who created the misleading video, failed to mention that weather forced the diversion, as was the case with other airlines destined for Gatwick that day, insisting the video was made out of mischief.
Acknowledging that no system is perfect, he pledged that Air Peace will continue striving for excellence. He thanked customers for their understanding, especially in areas where the airline fell short, and emphasized that Air Peace has an outstanding safety record, which management intends to continually improve to better serve Nigerians.
Congratulating Air Peace on this milestone, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, Minister of Transportation, representing the Vice President, celebrated Air Peace’s contributions to regional integration, noting its extensive network as a foundation for cultural and commercial exchange.
Senator Festus Keyamo, Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, commended Air Peace for its unparalleled contributions to Nigerian aviation. He pledged government support for Air Peace’s future endeavors, including route expansion and continued excellence.
In his goodwill message, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki noted that the airline business is capital-intensive but has very low profit margins. He observed that anyone entering the airline business aims to build the economy of their country, not to make huge profits.