Air Peace hinges economic growth on aerial connectivity in Africa

Chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Allen Onyema, has hinged economic growth on the African continent on seamless air connectivity across the countries.

Onyema, at the launch of Air Peace’s Abuja, Lagos and Accra to Monrovia and Liberia flights, said enormous trade partnerships and opportunities abound in Africa, but for the challenges of connectivity.

He said the challenge informed the airline’s efforts to link African nations and connect them with the rest of the world through flights to Accra, Freetown, Banjul, Dakar and Monrovia.

Onyema, who was represented by the carrier’s Corporate Communications Manager, Chris Iwarah, said the carrier was gradually rewriting the negative narrative about regional flight operations in West Africa.

The launch of the airline’s Monrovia service had expanded its regional operations to five routes.

Onyema said: “Today’s epoch-making event is a pleasing consolidation of our efforts to unlock the economies of Africa, offer air travellers on business and leisure  trips seamless connectivity as well as create jobs for people.

“Our goal is to build a solid base to link African nation’s and connect the continent to the rest of the world by air. With our expanded fleet of 24 aircraft comprising Boeing 737, 777; Embraer 145 and Dornier Jets, we are set to soon begin flights to many international destinations including Dubai, Sharjah, Guangzhou- China, London, Houson, Mumbai and South Africa. There is no doubt we mean business at Air Peace.”

Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services, Liberia Airport Authority, Paula Fares Harvey, congratulated Air Peace on its commencement of Monrovia flights. The launch, she added, was a great milestone in Air Peace’s effort to connect Africa by air.

“It’s good for you, it’s good for us in Liberia at this time,” Harvey said shortly after the flight landed at the Roberts International Airport, Monrovia at about 12.15 p.m. (local time) to a rousing water salute and warm welcome by aviation authorities, airport workers and corporate executives.

Meanwhile, Air Peace has announced plans to commence daily flights from Lagos to Kaduna from August 13 as part of its no-city-left-behind project.

Iwarah said the carrier was pleased to connect and unite the South and North of Nigeria by air.
Air Peace, which recently secured the renewal of its International Air Transport Association Operation Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate, said broadening its route network in the North of Nigeria aligned with its determination to democratise flying experience, give hope to unserved and underserved destinations as well as positively impact the economies of destinations where it operates.

The carrier assured that many more domestic routes, including Makurdi, Warri and Port Harcourt NAF Base, 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.