Guinea’s Minister of Transport, Ousmane Gaoul Diallo, said the commencement of Air Peace‘s Lagos–Conakry–Bamako service would further strengthen economic opportunities, trade and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Guinea.

A statement yesterday by the Spokesman of Air Peace, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, said that Diallo stated this while receiving the inaugural Air Peace flight at the Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport in Conakry over the weekend.

Diallo described the airline’s entry into the Guinean market as a significant milestone for regional integration.

According to him, the new air link would enhance the movement of people, facilitate trade and create fresh economic opportunities between both countries.

The route, inaugurated on August 1, connects Lagos with Conakry in Guinea and Bamako in Mali, marking another milestone in Air Peace’s regional expansion strategy aimed at deepening intra-African connectivity.

The inaugural flight departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with an Air Peace delegation led by the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Nowel Ngala, and Director of Flight Operations, Augustine Kamano.

The delegation was received in Conakry by Diallo, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Guinea, Umaru Kamfu, Director of Guinea’s Civil Aviation Authority, Thiam Oumar Sekou, and members of the Nigerian community.

Also speaking, Sekou said increased air connectivity remained important to the growth of the aviation industry and the advancement of regional integration across West Africa.

Also, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Guinea, Kamfu, commended Air Peace for expanding its African network, noting that the new route would strengthen bilateral ties while providing a more convenient travel option for Nigerians, Guineans and other travellers within the region.

Speaking on behalf of the airline, Ngala said the inaugural service was another milestone in Air Peace’s drive to build a robust African route network.

He said the Conakry and Bamako services would enable passengers from the airline’s domestic destinations to connect seamlessly through Lagos to regional and international destinations, including London and the Caribbean.

He added: “We remain committed to bringing African cities closer together by providing greater connectivity, convenience and access to business opportunities across the continent.”

From Conakry, the inaugural flight proceeded to Bamako, where it was received at the Modibo Keita International Airport by the Deputy Director of Assistance Aéroportuaire du Mali, Abdrahamane Farota, Technical Director Bahide Konandji, who represented the Director-General of Mali Airport, and members of the Nigerian community.

Farota said the new route would strengthen air connectivity between Nigeria and Mali, while creating more opportunities for trade, tourism and economic cooperation.

Also, Konandji expressed that the service was a positive development for Mali’s aviation sector and assured that it would improve travel between Mali, Nigeria and other destinations on Air Peace’s expanding network.

Members of the Nigerian community in Mali also welcomed the direct connection, saying it would ease travel and strengthen ties between Nigerians and Malians.

With the addition of Conakry and Bamako, Air Peace now operates to 13 regional destinations across West Africa, reinforcing its ambition to position Lagos as a major gateway for intra-African and international travel.